THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


SYLVIA  SSA3UHY 

! 

"HARRY  KAZSL" 


OB 


YANKEES  IN  JAPAN 

THE  ROMANTIC  ADVENTURES  OF  A  SAILOR-BOY. 


THE   WHALEB,   KING    PHILIP,    OW   THE    COAST   OF    JAPAN. 

BY  HARRY  HAZEL, 

AUTHOR   OF 

•YANKEE  JACK,"  "THE  THREE  PIRATES"  "GALLANT  TOM,"  "RED  KING,"  ETC. 

ILLT7STEATED. 

A  tale  of  romantic  and  stirring  adventure  by  sea  and  land.  One  of  those  thrilling  stories  which  always  attai 
popularity.  Robinson  Crusoe,  in  his  lonely  island  of  the  Pacific,  never  experienced  more  romantic  vicissitudes  ilia. 
4Ui  the  heio  ot  tbU  amusing  narrative  among  the  far-off  Orie  n  tals. 


T.    B.    PETERSON    AND    BROTHERS, 

306    CHESTNUT    STREET. 


SYLVIA  SEABURY: 


OK, 


THE  YANKEES  IN  JAPAN. 


BY   HARRY   HAZEL,- 

t  tJTHOR  OP  "  OLD  PUT ;  OR  THE  DAYS  OF  1776,"  "  THE  BRIGAND,  OR  THE  MOUNTAIN 

CHIEF,"  "THE  FLYING  ARTILLERIST,"  "YANKEE  JACK,"  "THE  REBEL  AND  THE 

KOVER,"    "THE    THREE    PIRATES,    OR    THE    CRUISE    OF  THE    TORNADO," 

"GALLANT  TOM,"  "RED  KING,  OR  THE  CORSAIR  CHIEFTAIN,"  "HARRY 

HELM;  OR  CRUISE  OF  THE  BLOODHOUND,"  "FLYING  DUTCHMAN," 

"DOOMED  SHIP,"  "GALLOPING   GUS,"  "JACK  JUNK,"  "YANKEE 

MIDDY,"  "  SWEENY  TODD,"  "THE  GOLD  SEEKERS,"  "RALPH 

RUNNION,"  "  VALDEZ,  THE  PIRATE,"  "  KING'S  CRUISERS," 

"THE    REBEL    BRIDE,"    "HARRY    TEMPEST,"     "THE 

FLYING    YANKEE,"   "THE    PIRATE'S    SON,"    ETC. 


J)l)Ua&elpl)ia: 

T.     B.     PETERSON     &    BROTHERS, 

306     CHESTNUT     STREET. 


i 


YANKEES  IN  JAPAN; 


OR,  THE 


ROMANTIC  ADVENTURES  OF  A  SAIIOR  BOY 


CHAPTER  I. 

Ths  Whaler — Arrival  of  a  pair  >:f  Green  Hands — A  "  striking" 
Incident — Ike  Embarkation. 

THE  remarkable  incidents  of  the  "  plain,  unvarnished  tale," 
which  we  propose  to  indite,  are  comprised  within  a  period  of 
about  nine  years,  the  concluding  one  of  which  "  came  off"  quite 
recently  ;  and,  we  trust,  that  they  will  lose  none  of  their  ro 
mantic  interest  because  they  did  not  occur  in  "days  of  auld 
lang  syne  ;"  nor  because  of  their  truthfulness  ;  nor  because 
nearly  all  the  characters  who  figured  therein  are  either  living 
or  moving,  or  have  lived  and  moved,  in  our  very  midst,  not  in 
corporeal  shadows,  or  creatures  of  the  imagination,  but  genu 
ine  beings,  having  all  the  faculties  and  senses  of  the  most 
favored  of  us  poor  mortals.  But,  without  further  preface,  we 
proceed  to  make  record  of  certain  events,  which  have  .made 
much  commotion  in  certain  quarters,  and  a  deep  impression  on 
a  mind  not  apt  to  be  affected  by  trifles. 

The  beautiful  and  picturesque  maritime  town  of  N 

situated  something  less  than  fifty  leagues  from  the  overgrown 
metropolis  of  the  Bay  State,  is  too  well  known  to  require  a 
minute  description  from  us.  It  will  quite  suffice  to  remark 
that,  although  at  one  period  of  its  history,  it  bid  fair  to  become 


489490 

ENGLISH 


6  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  J     OR, 

the  rival  of  Boston  in  point  of  commercial  enterprise,  the  place 
is  now  much  better  known  as  a  summer  resort  for  beauty  and 
fashion,  than  for  any  importance  attached  to  it  because  of  its 
excellent  harbor,  or  of  its  limited  amount  of  shipping.  Once  it 
could  boast  of  its  whaling  fleet,  but  now  a  regular  blubber 
hunter  is  seldom  moored  in  its  waters. 

Some  eight  or  nine  years  ago,  however,  a  large  and  noble- 
looking  ship,  having  all  the  necessary  paraphernalia  of  a  whaler 
aboard,  was  lying-to  about  two  cables'  length  from  the  pier 
whbh  she  had  cast  off  from  but  half  an  hour  previous,  and 
appeared  to  be  in  waiting  for  the  pilot  or  some  one  of  her  com 
pany,  before  bracing  her  canvas  to  the  freshly-blowing  north 
west  wind.  While  she  was  thus  lying,  like  a  curbed  racer  im 
patient  for  the  start,  two  persons,  having  not  the  slightest 
appearance  of  ever  having  ventured  beyond  soundings,  came 
among  the  group  of  spectators  on  the  pier,  who  were  there 
simply  out  of  curiosity  to  see  the  ship  put  her  prow  seaward. 

The  eldest  of  these  two  strangers — for  strangers  they  were 
to  a  "  salt"  atmosphere — was  a  broad-shouldered,  athletic-looking 
man  of  some  thirty  years  of  age,  with  sun-browned  and  freckled 
features,  a  sandy  complexion,  with  a  profusion  of  red  hair, 
hanging  in  uncombed  ringlets  over  the  greasy  collar  of  a  dila 
pidated  brown  coat,  which  from  its  long  narrow  tails  and  short 
waist,  must  have  been  fashioned  to  his  back  long  before  he  had 
got  his  growth.  The  other  articles  of  his  wardrobe  were  per 
fectly  in  keeping  with  the  coat,  and,  altogether,  he  certainly 
made  a  very  unique  appearance.  But  this  was  merely  the 
outward  man,  and  as  men  are  too  generally  judged  by  their 
external  appearance,  we  leave  future  events  as  evidence  of 
what  sort  of  stuff  he  was  made  of.  That  he  had  held  the 
plough,  wielded  the  axe,  and  swung  the  scythe,  his  hands  and 
his  visage  indicated  ;  and  hands  inured  to  such  toil,  must  be 
vvell  tempered  to  pull  at  the  oar,  for  reefing  canvas,  or  striking 
the  harpoon  to  the  vitals  of  ocean's  leviathans. 

His  companion,  one  would  suppose,  at  a  casual  glance, 
almost  belonged  to  another  order  of  beings.  He  was  a  youth 
of  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  a  handsomer  or  more  noble- 
looking  boy,  both  in  form  and  feature,  Yankee  land  could 
scarcely  boast  of  among  her  sons.  He  was  the  picture  of 
health,  with  ruddy  cheeks,  large,  clear  blue  eyes,  with  a  pro 
fusion  of  fine,  curly  brown  hair,  flowing  gracefully  from  beneath 
his  cap.  His  forehead  was  broad,  and  every  feature  expressive 
of  intelligence.  He  seemed  far  better  adapted  for  the  univer 
sity,  or  the  military  academy,  than  for  the  forecastle  of  the  good 
ship  "  King  Philip,"  whose  shipping  papers  he  had  that  day 
signed,  in  company  with  his  rough  looking  companion.  Little 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY. 

could  the  youth  have  known  of  the  perils  he-had  volunteered 
to  encounter,  or  it  would  seem  that  he  would  have  chosen  any 
other  occupation  in  preference  to  that  of  whaling.  But  cir 
cumstances  often  compel  individuals  to  do  the  very  opposite  of 
that  which  would  appear  consistent  with  their  characters. — 
Thus  was  it  with  Paul  Payson,  the  youth  before  us,  who  had, 
for  certain  reasons,  with  which  the  reader  will  soon  be  in 
formed,  resolved  to  flee  from  the  land  of  his  birth  ;  and,  for  the 
sole  reason  that  he  was  about  to  leave  terra  finna,  will  account 
lor  his  having  a  companion  in  Zabdiel  Stubbs. 

On  reaching  the  foot  of  the  pier  they  were  quite  out  of  breath, 
having  run  a  mile  or  more,  in  fear  that  the  ship  would  sail  with 
out  them.. 

"  Helloa  !  yeou,  capting !"  shouted  Zabdiel;  "jest  steer  the 
King  Philip  up  here  so  we  can  get  into  her!" 

This  "  hail"  drew  a  shout  of  laughter  from  the  by-standers,  as 
well  as  many  derisive  expressions,  which  were  not  clearly  in 
telligible  to  the  "green  hand,"  but  from  the  angry  looks  which 
flashed  from  Paul's  e)es,  and  the  quivering  of  his  lips,  it  was 
certain  that  he  comprehended  their  meaning. 

A  gentleman,  who  was  standing  by,  stepped  up  to  Stubbs. 
and  informed  him  that  it  would  be  decidedly  inconvenient  for 
the  ship  to  come  alongside,  and  if  he  desired  to  be  taken  aboard, 
he  had  better  hail  for  the  boat. 

"  Helloa  !"  again  shouted  the  countryman ;  "  paddle  yer  canoe 
ihis  way !  Dod  rot  it,  yeou,  capting,  1  hope  yeou  don't  calki- 
Jate  on  leaving  a  faller  ahind  !" 

This  brought  down  a  louder  and  more  general  peal  of 
laughter  than  Zab's  first  essay  at  hailing. 

"Dod  rot  it,  what  yeou  all  a  larfin  at?"  he  inquired,  staring 
at  the  group. 

"  Are  you  one  o'  the  King  Philip's  crew  ?"  asked  one  of  those 
who  were  inclined  to  be  severely  jocose  at  Stubbs's  expense. 

"  Wai,  I  rayther  calkilate  I  shall  be,"  replied  Stubbs,  in 
drawling  tones,  "if  I  kin  only  get  myself  into  her." 

"  What's  the  price  o'  garden  sass  ?"  asked  another  of  the 
idlers. 

"  How  d'ye  leave  your  gal  ?" 

"  What'll  yer  take  for  a  half  o'  yard  o'  that  coat-tail,  s-a-ay  ?" 

"  Give  us  a  lock  o'  that  tow  under  yer  hat,  old  boy !" 

"  Duz  yer  mammy  know  yer  out  ?" 

These  and  a  volley  of  other  jeering  remarks  came  from  the 
idlers;  and  one  fellow,  emboldened  by  Stubbs's  good  nature, 
ventured  to  impose  upon  him  in  a  manner  which  nearly  cost 
him  his  life.  He  was  standing  just  in  the  rear  of  the  butt 
of  the  company,  and,  drawing  a  sheath-knife,  he  severed  in  an 


8  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  J    OK, 

instant  one  half  of  Zab's  "long  tail  blue,"  and  waived  it  over 
his  head  in  triumph! 

Before  Zab  could  wheel  about,  young  Paul,  who  had  borne 
the  insults  heaped  upon  his  companion  as  long  as  even  a  peace 
ful  disposition  would  permit,  suddenly  confronted  the  offender, 
and  striking  him  a  severe  blow  under  the  left  eat,  he  was 
felled,  not  to  the  earth,  but  into  the  water!  for  he  was  standing 
within  a  yard  of  the  edge  of  the  pier.  Unfortunately,  the  fel 
low  could  not  swim,  and  if  he  had  been  ever  so  expert  in  this 
almost  indispensable  accomplishment,  he  was  so  stunned  by  the 
blow,  that  he  would  have  been  drowned,  had  not  assistance 
been  at  hand. 

Paul,  who  had  not  calculated  the  results  of  the  blow,  being 
apprehensive  that  the  fellow's  life  was  in  danger,  was  the  first 
to  go  to  his  rescue.  In  he  plunged,  without  removing  cap  or 
jacket,  and  seizing  the  discomfited  one  by  the  coat  collar,  held 
his  head  above  water,  until  Zab,  fearing  for  both,  also  leaped 
in,  and  b.y  the  efforts  of  both,  succeeded  in  getting  the  punished 
offender  into  a  safer  element. 

The  jeering  remarks  of  the  idlers,  were  now  changed  to 
cheering  ejaculations,  for  they  had  optical  evidence  that,  how 
ever  uncouth  and  verdant  was  the  countryman,  he  had  courage 
and  humanity  sufficient  to  risk  his  own  life  to  save  that  of  a 
fellow  being.  The  heroic  conduct  of  Paul,  however,  in  resent 
ing  the  insult  to  his  companion  by  the  curtailment  of  his  coat, 
and  his  promptitude  in  assisting  the  culprit  out  of  his  perilous 
situation,  met  with  the  heartiest  approval. 

Meanwhile  this  scene  was  being  enacted,  Captain  Harold  of 
the  King  Philip  came  to  the  end  of  the  pier  for  the  purpose  of 
Koing  aboard.  He  saw  the  curtailment  of  the  coat,  the  aveng 
ing  blow,  and  the  prompt  rescue,  but  he  had  yet  to  learn  that 
the  names  of  two  of  the  participators  were  registered  on  the 
shipping  papers  of  his  vessel. 

''  King  Philip,  ahoy  !"  hailed  the  master. 

"Ay,  ay,  sir!"  came  a  response;  and  quickly  a  bo? t  was 
manned  and  was  soon  pulled  alongside  the  wharf. 

The  captain  stepped  aboard  the  boat ;  and  so  did  Paul  and 
Zabdiel,  somewhat  to  the  surprise  of  the  former. 

"  Halloo !  where  are  you  going  ?'  ejaculated  the  master. 

"  Wai,  capting,  I  rayther  guess  I'm  going  to  sea,"  replied  Zab. 

"  When  did  you  ship?" 

"  H-a-y  ?"  drawled  Zab,  not  comprehending  the  interroga 
tory. 

"  I  wish  to  know  if  you  belong  to  the  crew  of  the  King 
Philip?" 

"  I  reckon  I  dew,  and  Paul  tew.     We  signed  to  go,  yester 
day,  in  Bosting — got  a  leetle  cash  \p  advance,  tew." 
» 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  8 

"  Have  you  got  your  chests  aboard  ?"  ' 

"  We  didn't  buy  chests,  but  we  have  got  an  all-firec  slap-up 
hair  trunk  between  us." 

"  You  shipped  as  green-hands,  I  presume  ?"  queried  the  cap- 
lain. 

4'  Wai,  mebbe  we're  green,  and  mebbe  we  ain't,"  replied 
Zabdiel.  "I  can  lift  a  quarter  of  a  ton,  and  pull  half  as  much 
as  an  ox  ;  and  as  for  Paul  he  can  climb  like  a  squirrel,  lick 
twice  his  weight  in  human  cattle,  and  can  write,  cipher,  and 
spell  like  a  school- rnarra." 

"Excellent  recommendation  for  whalemen,"  remarked  Cap 
tain  Harold.  "  Pull  away,  boys  !"  he  continued,  addressing 
the  oarsmen  ;  "  the  tide  begins  to  ebb — and  we  must  get  into 
blue  water  before  it  is  dark." 

In  a  few  minutes  all  were  upon  the  deck  of  the  noble  ship — 
the  helm  was  put  hard  down — fore-topmast  staysail  and  jib  run 
up — topsails  and  top-gallant  sails  braced  to  catch  the  breeze, 
and  the  good  craft,  named  after  the  sovereign  of  Mount  Hope, 
was  bowling  away  towards  old  Nep's  domain,  favored  by  wind 
and  tide,  at  the  rate  of  nine  knots  per  hour. 

"  Wai,"  says  Zabdiel,  to  his  young  companion,  whose 
thoughts  were  dwelling  upon  his  rural  home,  "  if  this  be  going 
to  sea  1  rayther  like  it;  but  I  only  wish  the  tarnal  vessel 
would  go  a  leetle  steadier — it  kinder  riles  a  faller's  stummick." 

"  Aloft,  boys,  atei  unfurl  r'yals,"  ordered  the  first  officer, 'ad 
dressing  some  three  or  four  youngsters. 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  they  responded  simultaneously,  and  like  so 
many  cats  they  sprang  into  the  main  and  fore-rigging,  and  in  a 
few  moments  were  laying  out  upon  the  yards. 

"  What's  your  name,  sir  ?"  asked  the  mate,  addressing  our 
young  hero. 

"  Paul  Payson." 

"  This,  I  take  it,  is  your  first  voyage  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  While  we're  in  smooth  water,  you  may  as  well  practice 
going  aloft,"  said  the  mate,  kindly,  -tor  he  was  prepossessed  in 
favor  of  the  youth  at  the  first  glance.  "  Think  you  can  follow 
those  boys  ?" 

"  I'll  try,  sir ;"  and  without  another  word  he  mounted  the 
main  rigging,  and  reached  the*  royal  yard,  almost  as  readily  as 
did  his  young  shipmates. 

"  That  boy  '11  make  a  sailor,"  observed  the  mate,  as  he 
watched  Pau.1  in  his  first  trial  at  going  aloft. 

"  He's  used  to  climbing,"  said  Zabdiel. 

*  He  told  me  he'd  never  been  to  sea  ?" 

*  That's  gospil  trewth,  for  I've  known  him  ever  since  he  wa« 


10  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  }    OR, 

kne«i-nigh  to  a  hopper-grass  ;  and  as  for  climbing  I've  known 
him  to  go  up  our  meetin'-us  lightnin'  rod  in  a  thunder  storm  ; 
but  I  say,  yeou,  dew  yeou  call  this  smewth  water  ?" 

"  To  be  sure  I  do,  and  you'll  be  o'  rny  way  o'  thinking  before 
you're  twenty-four  hours  older,"  replied  the  officer  ;  "  when 
you  see  the  seas  running  as  high  as  the  Green  Mountains,  then 
you  may  call  it  rough." 

"Creashun  and  cauliflowers!"  exclaimed  Zab  ;  "I  shan't  be 
able  to  stand  it,  I  know  I  shan't !  I  feel  now  as  if — yes,  by 
hokey,  I  shall  buttermilk  soon,  I — " 

But  we  forbear  to  pursue  the  raw  sailor's  very  common  com 
plaint  with  novices  at  sea.  We  must  now  make  a  retrograde 
movement,  in  order  to  record  certain  events  which  caused 
Paul  Payson  and  Zabdiel  Stubbs  to  venture  on  a  whaling 
voyage;  and  when  this  is  done,  we  shall  rejoin  the  whaler  in 
other  seas,  and  amid  scenes  of  danger,  such  as  are  seldom  en. 
countered  by  those  who  go  "  down  to  the  sea  in  ships." 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Millionaire — Sylvia,  his  Daughter — Rivalry  and  Hatred 
— The  Unmannerly  Assault — The  Duck  in  the  Pond. 

IN  one  of  those  princely  dwellings — or  rather  palaces — which 
nearly  surround  Boston's  magnificent  mall  and  common,  re 
sides  the  family  of  one  of  the  most  wealthy  and  eminent  "mer 
chant  princes,"  of  which  our  favored  metropolis,  can  boast. 

The  name  of  Saul  Seabury  is  perhaps  as  \fell  known  and 
honored — as  far  as  bills  of  exchange  and  other  "promises  to 
pay"  are  concerned — in  the  great  maritime  marts  of  the 
Pacific  and  Indian  Oceans,  and  in  the  Mediterranean  and 
Baltic  Seas,  as  in  those  of  the  eastern  and  western  coasts  of 
the  Atlantic.  His  ships  have  traversed  every  navigable  ocean, 
sea,  river,  and  estuary  known  to  our  adventurous  mariners 
There  is  scarcely  a  nation,  civilized  or  barbaric,  with  which 
we  have  commercial  relations,  but  has  contributed  something 
to  swell  the  coffers  of  the  enterprising  Saul  Seabury. 

From  comparative  poverty,  this  son  of  Croesus  climbed 
«te£.;.2jy  the  ladder  to  affluence,  and  at  the  late  period  of  which 
we  write,  he  was  ranked,  indisputably,  as  a  millionaire;  and  if 
any  one  doubts  our  assertion,  let  him  refer  to  tlie  annual  of 
'Our  First  Men,"  where  he  will  assuredly  discover  Saul,  if 
not  "among  the  prophets,'  certainly  among  the  nabobs. 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OP    A    SAILOR    BOY.  11 

The  millionaire,  Seabury,  had  a  beautiful  daughter.  It  is 
not  often  that  millionaires  are  blessed  with  beautiful  or  angelic 
daughters  :  the  daughters  of  very  wealthy  men  are  apt  to  be  of 
the  sickly  genteel  sort : — they  have  languishing  airs  and  re 
markably  slender  waists;  pale  cheeks,  white  lips,  weak  ankles, 
tender  feet,  and  turn-up  noses  (the  latter,  frequently,  not 
turned  up  by  nature,  but  that  shape  being  acquired  by  a  con 
stant  habit  of  their  proud  owners  turning  them  up  at  everything 
and  every  body  that  is  not  attached  to  the  particularly  exalted 
sphere  in  which  they  suppose  themselves  to  revolve  or  are  re 
volved).  But  our  millionaire's  daughter,  under  propitious  cir 
cumstances,  grew  up  to  be  a  decided  exception  to  the  general 
rule.  She  was  lovely  in  character,  and  beautiful  in  form  and 
feature.  In  truth,  Sylvia  Seabury,  to  speak  in  common  par 
lance,  was  "  the  prettiest  girl  in  town," — seven  years  ago. 
What  she  is  now  our  readers  will  be  informed  anon.  We  are 
here  speaking  of  her  as  a  sweet  maiden  of  sixteen  summers, 
and  she  well  deserved  the  common  phrase  which  every  body, 
who  had  a  glimpse  at  her  loveliness,  applied  to  her  without  anj 
qualification,  or  with  a  view  to  flatter  or  exaggerate  hea 
charms. 

The  truth  is,  Sylvia  was  not  reared  in  the  hot-bed  of  metro 
politan  aristocracy.  Scarcely  had  she  reached  the  age  of  fw 
years,  when  an  afflicting  circumstance — the  loss  of  her  mothei 
— placed  her  in  the  care  of  a  widowed  aunt — a  lady  of  fine 
mental  culture — for  education  ;  and  with  her  she  remained, 
except  at  occasional  brief  intervals,  for  upwards  of  ten  years. 
Their  residence  was  in  one  of  those  quiet  villages  in  one  of 
the  valleys  in  the  western  part  of  the  good  old  commonwealth, 
which  had  not  been  disturbed  by  the  quick  rumbling  of  car 
wheels,  or  the  piercing  shriek  of  iron-harnessed  coursers. 

Here,  amid  all  the  beauties  and  comforts  of  rural  life,  were 
imparted  to  her  those  qualities  which  strengthen  the  mind,  and 
refine,  adorn  and  elevate  the  gentler  sex.  The  companions  of 
Sylvia's  girlhood-days  were  the  rustic,  but  well  educated  maid 
ens  of  the  village ;  and  she  loved  and  was  beloved  by  all ;  and 
when  it  was  known  that  she  was,  at  length,  to  take  a  final  leave 
of  them,  arid  of  those  pleasant  scenes,  the  girls  thronged  to  bid 
her  an  affectionate,  though  they  hoped  not  a  last,  farewell ;  and 
many  an  eye  was  dimmed  with  tears  at  the  parting. 

Thus  was  this  fair,  this  beauteous  flower  transplanted  from 
the  genial  soil  in  which  it  had  been  nurtured  and  flourished, 
surrounded  by  the  simplicity  of  the  country,  to  the  hot-bed  of 
the  metropolis,  amid  artificial  magnificence  and  luxuriousness. 

It  was  with  truly  manifest  regret  that  Sylvia  was  to  leave  all 
the  beauteous  things  that  Nature,  sublime  teacher,  had  taught 


12  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  J    OR, 

her  to  love,  notwithstanding  her  abode  was  henceforth  to  be 
with  her  surviving  parent,  a  brother,  two  twin-sisters,  five  years 
younger  than  herself.  This  regret,  it  must  be  confessed,  would 
have  been  very  much  lessened,  had  it  not  been  for  a  fervent 
attachment  she  had  formed  for  a  young  swain  of  the  neighbor 
hood,  by  the  name  of  Paul  Payson,  whom  we  have  already  in 
troduced  to  the  reader,  ,and  who  was  regarded  by  those  who 
best  knew  him,  as  a  noble  fellow — one  of  those  choice  and  gal 
lant  spirits  with  a  soul  above  malice,  envy  or  revenge.  Sylvia 
could  scarcely  reconcile  her  feelings  to  the  idea  of  a  separation 
from  Paul ;  for  he  had  been  her  companion  from  childhood,  and 
he  held,  in  spite  of  the  envy  and  jealousy  of  others  of  his  sex, 
a  sort  of  prescriptive  right  to  be  her  gallant  in  all  the  rural 
excursions  and  sports  of  summer,  and  in  all  the  sleighing  aud 
dancing  parties  and  other  merry-makings  of  winter. 

Paul  was  the  son  of  a  poor  but  highly  esteemed  farmer — a 
man  "  who  had  seen  better  days,"  but  who,  through  the  instiga 
tion  of  one  Ralph  Randall,  a  sneaking,  speculating,  intriguing, 
meddling,  pettifogging  attorney,  was  prevailed  upon — as  many 
honest  men  have  been  persuaded  to  do  before  him — to  mort 
gage  his  domain  for  the  purpose  of  raising  funds  to  invest 
in  a  certain  Lake  Superior  mining  company,  with  a  jaw  crack 
ing  aboriginal  title,  of  which  the  aforesaid  legal  gentleman  was 
President ;  and,  indeed,  if  fanner  Payson  had  examined  into  the 
fact,  he  would  have  been  astonished  to  learn  that  Randall  wag 
not  only  President,  but  Treasurer  and  Director,  and  the  whole 
mine  himself;  for  the  speculating,  swindling  enterprise  was  the 
project  of  his  own  brain.  All  the  money  raised  on  the  stock 
went  into  his  own  capacious  pockets,  and  not  one  cent  did  he 
pay  for  digging  the  native  copper  from  his  imaginary  mine. 

Paul's  lather  chanced  to  become  one  of  the  attorney's  great 
est  dupes  ;  and,  at  this  time,  instead  of  being  lord  of  the  soil 
which  he  tilled  for  the  sustenance  of  his  family,  he  held  it  only 
on  sufferance  of  the  mercenary,  villanous  pettifogger. 

This  unscrupulous  legal  individual  had  a  son — a  '•  chip  of  the 
old  block" — about  the  same  age  of  Paul  Payson,  who  had  like 
wise  conceived  an  ardent  passion  for  the  beautiful  Sylvia  ;  but 
he  inherited  too  many  of  his  father's  unamiable  traits  of  char 
acter,  to  be  held  even  with  ordinary  respect  by  the  fair  maiden, 
who  loved  only  Paul,  and  whose  hand  he  fondly  hoped  to  win. 
Besides,  he  had  but  few  opportunities  of  importuning  her,  ex 
cept  during  college  vacations — he  being  an  undergraduate  ot 
Old  Harvard — while  Paul,  on  almost  every  pleasant  day,  ram 
bled  with  her  through  the  groves  and  green  fields ;  or  sailed 
with  her  on  the  little  placid  lake,  which  lay  like  a  mirror  of  bur 
nished  steel  within  ten  minutes'  walk  of  the  old  homestead  of 
farmer  Payson. 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  13 

Reuben  Randall  had  keenness  enough  to  perceive  readily 
who  was  the  favored  one  in  sweet  Sylvia's  eyes,  yet  he  did  not 
despair  of  supplanting  him  ;  for  when  once  she  was  removed 
from  the  village  to  the  metropolis,  he  flattered  himself  that  he 
could  gain  an  easy  access  to  the  society  in  which  she  would 
move,  while  Paul,  "  the  rustic  booby,"  as  Reuben  designated 
him,  could  not  have  that  privilege. 

On  the  evening  prior  to  Sylvia's  taking  leave  of  her  friends, 
there  was  quite  a  large  gathering  of  the  damsels  and  swains  of 
the  village,  at  the  cottage  which  had  so  long  been  the  home  of 
the  maiden.  On  this  occasion  Paul  and  Reuben  were  both 
present.  It  oeing  a  bright  moonlight  night,  and  the  atmosphere 
bland,  a  ramble  and  a  dance  in  the  delightful  grove  adjoining 
was  proposed.  The  company — one  of  each  sex  of  course — 
paired  off;  and,  gaily  singing,  laughing  and  chatting,  they  mer 
rily  tripped  away  to  the  scene  of  their  happiest  sports. 

As  may  be  presumed,  our  young  hero  was  by  Sylvia's  side, 
although  his  would-be  rival  made  many  attempts  to  leave  his 
less  admired  companion,  for  the  peerless  one  whose  fascinations 
w-,re  irresistible  to  all  hearts  of  less  than  adamantine  hardness. 
AH  hour  was  agreeably  passed  in  rural  pleasures,  when  it  was 
dis^ovei->d  that  Paul  and  Sylvia  were  missing.  This  fact  being 
ma<ie  certain,  there  was  a  grand  interchange  of  significant  con 
jectures  »ouching  the  loves  of  this  youthful  couple,  particularly 
from  the  'ips  of  the  maidens.  There  had  been  before  many 
intimatioi  s  and  suppositions  relative  to  their  strong  affection 
for  each  o  her,  though  nothing  definite  was  certain  ;  but  now  all 
was  confuted,  otherwise  they  would  not  have  secretly  hied  off 
together. 

A  mischief-loving  fair  one  at  length  ventured  to  propose  that 
they  should  all  start  off  in  search  of  the  stray  couple;  but  the 
proposition  met  with  such  general  disfavor,  that  the  sports  were 
lesumed,  revolving  that,  in  this  case  at  least,  they  would  act  in 
accordance  with  the  scriptural  injunction  of  doing  as  they 
would  be  done  by  and  allow  the  lovers  the  delight  of  their  own 
society  Without  molestation. 

]\ot  by  th;s  or  any  other?golden  rule  was  young  Rueben  Ran 
dall  to  be  governed,  for  ere  it  was  known  to  the  company  that 
our  hero  ar<d  heroine  had  absented  themselves,  he  was  dogging 
their  footsteps,  and  by  taking  advantage  of  the  shadows  of  the 
full-leaved  oaks  and  maples,  he  managed  to  keep  himself  unper- 
ceived  wi'hin  hearing  distance  of  their  conversation.  The 
expressions  that  fell  upon  the  ears  of  the  impertinent  listener 
were  in  substance  as  follows  : 

"  Nay,  Paul,  you  are  jesting,"  said  Sylvia,  in  careless  tones 

This  was  in  reply  to  a  fervent  declaration  of  his  passion,  and 


14  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  \    OR, 

notwithstanding  her  intimation,  Paul's  face  never  had  a  more 
earnest  expression. 

"Jesting,  Sylvia,  but  ill  suits  my  feelings  at  this  time,"  re 
plied  her  lover  in  accents  almost  of  sadness.  "  You  seem  tc 
forget  that  with  the  rising  of  to-morrow's  sun,  the  sun  of  my 
existence  will  leave  me — perhaps  forever." 

Sylvia  was  silent ;  her  hand  was  pressed  within  that  of  Paul's, 
and  her  love-kindled  eyes,  brighter  than  the  dew-drops  glistening 
in  the  moon's  rays,  were  fondly  ga/ing  into  his  open,  ingenuous 
and  intelligent  countenance,  as  if  she  did  not  fully  comprehend 
the  import  of  his  words. 

"Sylvia/'  resumed  the  youth,  "  pardon  me  if  on  this  occasion 
I  speak  in  terms  of  boldness — in  terms  which  must  be  under 
stood — for  I  fear  that  with  this  stolen  interview,  ends  for  years, 
perhaps  forever,  an  acquaintance,  which  for  me  has  bad  more 
joy  in  it  than  all  other  joys  besides.  Shall  1  proceed  ?" 

"  If  you  would  speak  of  fears,  Paul,  I  pray  that  you  will  be 
silent,  lor  your  manner  and  voice  betray  your  sadness  ;  but  if 
you  would  talk  of  joys,  even  in  anticipation,  pray  go  on  ;  I  will 
be  your  attentive  auditor  ;  but  speak  in  low  tones,  lest  your 
words  reach  other  ears,  and  I  be  jealous  of  whoever  hears  them." 

"  Sylvia,"  said  the  ardent  youth  ;  "  I  think  I  need  hardly  re 
peat  that  the  love  which  glows  in  this  poor  heart  of  mine,  burns 
only  for  thee  ;  and  when  you  have  gone,  J  shall  be  bereft  of  one 
*vho  alone  has  power  to  render  my  existence  desirable.  These 
pleasant  scenes,  which  have  ever  been  so  delightful  to  me,  will 
have  lost  their  charm,  and  seem  like  a  barren  waste,  when  your 
roice  is  no  longer  heard  among  them.  But  here,  Sylvia,  I  shall 
not  long  remain.  I  will  look  to  other  lands.  The  boundless 
oceans  I  will  cross,  until  I  have  acquired  that — " 

"  Talk  not  thus,"  said  the  maiden,  interrupting  him.  "  Let 
me  assure  you,  that  although  1  am  soon  no  longer  to  consider 
this  pleasant  valley  my  home,  it  is  far  from  my  desire ;  but 
it  is  my  father's  will  and  command,  and  him  I  cannot,  dare  not 
disobey." 

"  Think  not,  Sylvia,  I  would  be  so  rude  as  to  interpose  a 
single  obstacle  to  your  father's  will  in  this  respect  had  I  the 
power  to  do  so.  But — but — " 

The  youth  hesitated. 

"Speak  your  thoughts,  freely,  Paul,"  said  the  blushing  maiden. 

'•  Forgive  me  if  I  do,"  he  replied.  "  I  cannot  repress  my 
fears  that,  when  you  mingle  in  the  gay  society  of  the  city  you 
will  be  importuned  by  the  only  person  I  entertain  a  hatred  for !" 

"  Ah !  Paul !  noxy  do  I  see  that  you  are  resolved  to  make 
yourself  jealous." 

"Nay,  Sylvia — not  without  a  cause,  be  assured.     He,  who 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENT  trB  E3    OF    A    3AILOE     BOY.  1ft 

more  than  once  has  crossed  my  path,  will  then  have  oppor- 
tunities  to  meet  you,  a  privilege  which  I  must  necessarily  be 
deprived  of." 

"You  mean  that  foppish  student,  Reuben  Randall?" 

"  Who  else  could  I  mean  ?  Has  he  not  more  than  one* 
avowed  a  determination  to  supplant  me  in  your  favor?  Has 
he  not  ridiculed  and  slandered  me,  and  taunted  me  openly  be 
cause  I  am  a  poor  farmer's  son  ?" 

"All  his   avowals  and    misrepresentations,  Paul,   will  aval 
him  nothing,  except  gain   my  hatred  and   contempt,"  she  an 
svvered  with  animation.     "  Therefore,  let  him  not  disturb  your 
thoughts.     I'can  never  look  with  favor  upon  one  who,  I  be 
lieve,  is  so  utterly  devoid. of  principle  as  he  is" 

"Of  that  I  feel  assured.  It  is  not  for  thy  faith  I  fear, 
Sylvia  ;  but  this  Randall  is  a  snake  in  the  grass,  like  his 
miserly,  pettifogging  father ;  and  he  will  not  pounce  upon  his 
intended  victim  until  he  has  drawn  a  web  around  it  that  ren 
ders  escape  almost  impossible.  I  have  much  reason  to  fear 
him." 

"  Your  apprehensions,  if  they  relate  to  me,  Paul,  are  not 
justified." 

"  I  trust  they  are  not ;  but  is  well  to  be  forewarned  ;  I  know 
that  there  is  more  danger  lurking  in  Randall's  brain  than  you 
can  be  aware  of." 

"  Ah  !  what  can  you  mean  ?" 

"  To  speak  plainly,  Sylvia,  I  heard  him  declare,  in  another'? 
ear,  that  Sylvia  Seabury,  whether  she  hated  or  loved  him,  was 
destined  to  become  his  wife  !" 

"  Ah  !  indeed !  that's  decidedly  cool  in  Mr.  Randall ;  and 
how  does  he  intend  to  accomplish  his  purpose  of  possessing  a 
hand  that,  as  yet,  I  believe,  is  my  property  ?"  said  Sylvia,  with 
a  tart  expression. 

"  He  said  that  he  had  not  only  gained  an  acquaintance  with 
your  father,  but  had  also  gained  his  consent  that  you  should 
wed  him,  as  soon  as  he  had  graduated  at  the  university." 

"Never — never!  shall  Reuben  Randall  be  my  husband!" 
she  exclaimed  with  emphasis. 

"  I  knew,  dear  Sylvia,  that  that  would  be  your  response  to 
Randall's  presumptuous  declaration.  A  man  who  is  so  tho 
roughly  despised,  even  by  his  own  relatives,  and  with  abundant 
cause,  must  ever  fail  to  meet  with  thy  kind  regard." 

A  slight  rustling  of  the  leaves  near  by,  caused  the  lovers  to 
start  from  the  moss-covered  rock  on  which  they  had  been 
•eated. 

"We're  watched,  I  fea.  !"  exclaimed  Paul,  in  a  whisper; 


16  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  J     OE, 

and  he  endeavored  to  penetrate  with  his  eyes  the  deep  shade 
where  his  enemy  was  lurking. 

"  Your  fear  does  not  deceive  you  !"  boldly  exclaimed  Reuben 
Randal!,  suddenly  stepping  from  behind  a  huge  oak  tree,  not 
five  paces  distant.  "  Ah  !  it  grieves  me  to  spoil  such  a  delight 
ful  tete-a-tete — it  does  indeed,  by  all  that's  agreeable,"  he  con 
tinued,  striving  to  be  gay  and  facetious,  despite  the  hate  and 
anger  which  rankled  in  his  bosom  ;  '*  delightful,  'pon  my  word 
— rural  felicity — sweet,  enchanting  scene — moonlight — anothei 
Lorenzo  and  Jessica,  by  all  that's  Shakspearian  and  excru 
ciating." 

"  Insolence  !"  exclaimed  Paul,  hesitating  whether  to  reply  or 
knock  the  intrusive,  taunting  puppy  down. 

Sylvia  clung  to  her  lover's  arm,  trembling  with  apprehension 
at  what  she  saw  must  follow. 

"Insolence!"  repeated  Randall,  mockingly.  "  Pretty  good, 
by  all  that's  commendable,  to  stand  and  hear  one's  self  derided 
in  a  pretty  girl's  ear,  by  a  rustic  clown.  'Pon  honor,  I  call 
that  de-ci-ded-ly  rich — don't  you,  my  charming  Miss  Seabury  ?" 

"  You  forget,  sir,  the  trite  saying  that  listeners  never  hear 
any  good  of  themselves,"  said  Sylvia,  spiritedly  ;  "  and  I  am 
not  a  little  surprised  .to  find  one  who  assumes  at  least  to  be  a 
gentleman,  and  one  who  has  been  bred  in  good  society,  playing 
the  degraded  part  which,  by  your  own  confession,  you  have 
been  enacting." 

"  Now,  by  all  that's  truthful,  Miss  Seabury,  it  was  by  acci 
dent  that  I  overheard  the  slanderous  remark  of  that  country 
butnkin',  asseverated  Randall. 

"  If  I  did  not  know  your  utter  disregard  for  veracity,  I  might 
believe  you,"  returned  the  maiden,  gaining  courage  at  each 
moment  in  presence  of  the  self-conceited  coxcomb. 

"  By  all  that's  sarcastic,  you  are  very  severe,  my  pretty 
rose-bud,"  replied  Randall.  "  Had  your  booby  lover  ventured 
that  remark,  I  should  have  been  tempted  to  soil  my  hands  by 
pitching  him  into  the  pond — I  should,  by  all  that's  disagreeable." 

"  Then  let  me  remark,  impertinent  puppy,  that  you  are  not 
only  a  foul-mouthed  liar,  but  an  unmitigated  villain !"  returned 
Paul,  with  startling  emphasis. 

"Nay,  Paul,  do  not  provoke  a  quarrel  with  him,"  en 
treated  Sylvia  ;  "  he  is  unworthy  your  resentment." 

"i  cannot,  by  all  that's  uncleanly,  soil  my  hands  in  the 
presence  of  Miss  Seabury,"  said  Randall,  "  who,  it  grieves 
me  to  say,  is  disgracing  herself  and  family,  by  permitting  a 
iiow  bred  fellow  to  associate  with  her." 

"  Because  you  are  a  cowardly  puppy — that  is  the  true 
reason,"  answered  Paul. 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  19 

"  You  shall  suffer  for  this  insolence,  Mister  Paul  Payson," 
said  Randall.  "I  shall  seek  revenge  without  degrading  myself 
by  committing  an  assault  and  battery  on  your  detestable 
person.  Go  home,  and  tell  your  bankrupt  father  that  he  had 
better  pack  up  his  beggarly  traps  and  leave  the  farm  on  which 
he  gets  his  bread,  on  my  father's  sufferance." 

"  Your  father  is  an  intriguing  pettifogging  knave,  as  all  the 
people  of  the  village  and  the  neighboring  country  know  to 
their  sorrow,"  returned  our  hero,  undaunted  by  threats  very 
like  those  he  had  heard  from  Lawyer  Randall  before.  "Go 
home,  yourself,  and  tell  your  father  that  he  cheated  mine  out 
of  his  lands,  by  infamous  trickery,  as  he  has  done  the  pro 
perty  of  many  an  honest  man,  since  he  took  up  his  resi 
dence  in  a  village,  where  every  body  loathes  and  despises  him 
as  they  would  a  venomous  reptile.  I  heed  not  your  threats 
no  more  than  I  do  the  bark  of  any  other  curlish  puppy.  A  day 
of  retribution,  as  sure  as  there  is  justice  in  Heaven,  vvl.  come, 
sooner  or  later,  and  my  wronged  father  shall  have  his  rights 
again.  Therefore,  begone !  out  of  my  sight,  villain !  or  I  may 
be  tempted  to  give  -the  first  blow." 

"I'll  not  give  you  an  opportunity,  beggarly  wretch!"  ex- 
claimed  Randall,  darting  forward,  and  levelling  a  blow  at 
Paul's  head,  with  an  oaken  staff,  which  he  carried  in  his  hand , 
but  its  fall  did  no  more  injury  than  to  knock  off  his  cap. 

Like  a  young  lion  upon  his  prey,  Paul  seized  his  antagonist, 
and  bore  him  heavily  to  the  earth,  and  placed  one  knee  upon 
the  dastard's  chest,  while  with  his  right  hand  he  clutched  the 
cravat  about  his  neck. 

"Murder!  murder!  help!  help!  murder !"  cried  Randall. 

"  How  shall  I  punish  the  impertinent  scoundrel,  Sylvia  ?" 
asked  Paul,  looking  up  as  he  held  his  hateful  enemy  firmly  to 
the  ground. 

"  Don't  punish  him — very  severely,"  she  replied. 

"  No,  I'll  not  punish  him  as  he  merits,"  said  our  hero ;  "  I'll 
just  give  him  a,  cold  bath  in  the  pond — he  threatened  as  much 
to  me — the  water  is  shallow,  and  there  is  no  danger  of  his  being 
drowned.  He  surely  deserves  no  less  a  punishment ;  he  shall 
have  it,  if  I've  strength  enough." 

Thus  saying,  Paul  raised  his  discomfited  antagonist,  and 
seizing  him  tightly  by  the  waist,  he  bore  him  struggling  to  the 
margin  of  the  placid  sheet  of  water  and  plunged  him  in! 

Randall's  cries  had  been  heard  by  some  of  the  villagers, 
who  reached  the  spot,  just  as  the  punished  student  had  made 
his  way  out  of  the  pond,  and  began  shaking  the  water,  like  a 
wet  spaniel,  from  his  clothes. 


20  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  J    OH, 

"What's  the  row?"  inquired  a  sturdy  farmer,  who  first 
reached  the  spot ;  "  I  heard  the  cry  of  murder !" 

"  It  came  from  the  lying  throat  of  that  cowardly  coxcomb, 
whom  1  just  soused  in  the  pond  for  his  insolence,"  answered 
our  hero. 

"Farmer  Williams,"  said  the  enraged  Randall;  "I  com 
mand  you,  in  the  name  of  the  law  to  arrest  Paul  Parson,  for  an 
attempt  to  murder  me  !" 

"  Paul  is  free  from  all  blame,  Mr.  Williams,"  said  the  sweet 
voice  of  Sylvia  Seabury.  "  I  witnessed  all  that  has  transpired 
between  them.  Randall  gave  the  provocation,  and  made  the 
attack  upon  Paul,  and  the  latter  threw  him  into  the  pond  to 
cool  his  violent  passion." 

"  My  life  on  the  truth  of  this  maiden,"  said  the  farmer  ;  "  I 
understand  it  all — that  upstart  deserved  all  he  has  got  for  his 
meddling  in  matters  that  don't  concern  him,  and  much  more  I 
have  no  doubt.  Take  my  advice,  Reuben  Randall — go  home 
— mind  your  own  business — and  never  be  caught  in  such  a 
mean  scrape  again." 

"You -shall  all  suffer  for  this,"  said  the- enraged  and  chop- 
fallen  youth,  as  he  sneaked  off  through  the  grove  in  an  opposite 
.direction  from  the  village,  muttering  all  sorts  of  vengeance, 
while  our  lovers  were  accompanied  homeward,  by  a  half  score 
or  more  of  their  friends,  who  had  arrived  in  time  to  hear 
Sylvia's  explanation  of  the  affair,  which  they  would  have  be- 
li^ved  no  sooner  had  an  angel  from  heaven  uttered  the  same 
words. 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY. 


CHAPTER  III. 

The  farewell — The  arrest — Paul    and  the  country  justice — 
The  constable's  journey — A  strange  adventure, 

Bright  and  lovely  was  the  morning  which  succeeded  the 
evening  of  the  discomfiture  of  Reuben  Randall,  by  his  more  ath 
letic  and  active  rival,  Paul  Payson.  The  king  of  day  arose  in 
all  his  refulgent  splendor  and  majesty ;  the  verdant  fields,  val 
leys,  hills  and  forests,  smiled  in  their  liveliest  robes  :  and  the 
birds  made  merry  the  groves,  which  on  the  evening  previous, 
gaily  resounded  with  the  happy  voices  of  the  rustic  youths  and 
maidens  of  the  neighborhood. 

At  this  most  joyous  and  lovely  hour  of  the  day,  the  horn  of 
the  mail  coach  a.woke  the  drowsy  villagers,  and  echoed  and  re 
echoed  from  forest,  hill  and  glade.  The  heavily  ladened  vehi 
cle  rolled  rapidly  through  the  broad  elm-embowered  avenue — 
the  four  high-mettled  steeds  prancing  along  as  if  they  felt  a 
pride  in  the  morning  task,  which  they  had  regularly  to  perform, 
of  dragging  the  guadily  decorated  coach  a  distance  of  ten  miles 
on  its  route  towards  the  City  of  Notions.  The  driver  cracked 
his  long-lashed  whip,  and  with  p,  graceful  curvature,  which  any 
son  of  Jehu  might  have  been  proud  of,  brought  round  his  coach, 
and  reined  in  his  coursers,  in  front  of  the  sylvan  cottage,  where 
Sylvia  Seabury  had  passed  upwards  of  ten  years  of  her  girl 
hood  career. 

The  unhappy  moment  had  arrived  when  Paul  Payson  and 
his  fond  Sylvia  were  to  bid  each  other  farewell — perchance  a 
final  adieu ;  and  as  he  stood  by  her  side,  with  her  hand  fondly 
pressed  within  his  own,  tears  gushed  unbiddingly  into  their  eyes, 
and  their  hearts  were  too  full  to  speak.  He  saw,  with  jealous 
eyes,  the  driver  make  hasty  preparation  for  her  departure,  and 
he  heard  with  unwelcome  ears,  the  announcement  of  "  all 
ready  !"  Sylvia  withdrew  her  hand  from  his  fervent  grasp,  and 
turned  to  receive  the  parting  words  and  parting  kiss  of  her  kind 
aunt,  whom  she  had  learned  to  love  as  a  mother.  Paul  escorted 
her  to  the  coach,  but  ere  she  placed  her  foot  upon  the  step,  she 


23  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN;     OR, 

turned  and  looked  him  full  in  the  face.  Their  eyes  had  a  mean- 
ing  look,  and  an  irresistible  attraction  suddenly  brought  their 
lips  in  contact.  .  t  was  their  first  kiss — their  parting  kiss!  The 
maiden  turned,  as  if  to  conceal  the  crimson  blushes  that  man 
tled  her  cheeks,  and  permitted  herself  to  be  assisted  into  the 
coach  by  her  lover  !  The  driver  slammed  to  the  coach  door — 
mounted  his  box — cracked  his  whip — and  the  horses  plunged 
forward  as  if  impatient  to  proceed  on  their  journey. 

Paul  stood  like  a  statue,  watching  the  vehicle  which  was 
conveying  from  him  the  "  bright,  particular  star"  of  his  exis 
tence  ;  and  even  after  it  had  got  beyond  the  reach  of  his  vision 
he  still  stared  in  the  direction  it  had  taken.  He  seemed  en* 
chained  abstractedly  to  the  spot,  nor  was  he  aroused  until  a 
rude  hand  was  laid  upon  his  shoulder,  and  he  heard  a  gruff 
voice,  exclaim — 

"  You're  my  pris'ner  !  I  'rest  you,  Paul  Payson,  in  the  nam« 
of  the  law,  and  by  virtue  of  this  ere  warrant!" 

Paul  turned  and  found  himself  in  the  hands  of  the  constable 
of  the  village,  and  near  by  stood  Reuben  Randall,  rubbing  bis 
hands  in  exultation  at  his  apparent  misfortune. 

"  For  what  ami  arrested  ?"  demanded  our  hero. 

"Murder  !"  replied  the  hang-dog  looking  constable. 

"Murder!  impossible!  I  have  committed  no  murder!" 

"  Wai,  it's  next  thing  to  it — the  warrant  reads  lor  'tempting 
to  murder  Reub'n  Handle  last  night — the  square's  son.  The 
law  I  s'pose  calls  it  manslotter ;  pity  it  didn't  call  it  murder  in 
the  first  degree ;  then  we  should  ha'  got  rid  of  as  big  a  scape 
goat  as  lives  atween  here  and  Satan's  kingdom." 

"I'm  unjustly  accused — I  see  it  all!"  the  youth  exclaimed, 
casting  a  contemptuous,  withering  look  upon  his  presumed  ac 
cuser;  "  but  I  shall  triumph  yet,  Reuben  Randall.  Flatter  not 
yourself  that  your  foul-mouthed  accusations  will  be  believed, 
it  is  you  who  most  deserves  to  be  in  the  custody  of  the  law, 
and  your  own  conscience,  if  you  can  boast  of  such  a  possession, 
tells  you  as  much.  Think  not  that  anything  you  have  the 
power  to  do  will  cause  me  to  despair  even  for  a  moment. 
Think  not  that  in  the  sweetest  of  all  you  triumphs,  you  can 
cause  my  soul  to  quake,  or  even  my  lips  to  quiver  with  fear!" 

"Away  with  the  prating  fool,  Spike  !"  commanded  Randall. 
"  Remember,  I  hold  you  responsible  for  his  appearance  before 
the  magistrate  at  nine  o'clock,  precisely,  this  day  !" 

With  these  words  the  vindictive  Randall  walked  away,  think 
ing  he  had  at  length  succeeded  in  getting  his  rival  into  a  dilemma 
out  of  which  he  determined  that  it  should  be  with  extrentu 
difficulty,  and  the  failure  of  all  his  wel'-laid  plans,  that  his  riva 
could  extricate  himself. 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR   BOY.  23 

"  Before  what  magistrate  ?"  asked  Paul,  of  Spike,  the  con 
stable. 

"  Why,  in  course,  you  knows  we  has  but  one,"  answered  the 
important  official,  "  and  you  knows  very  well  who  he  is." 

"  You  surely  cannot  mean  that  villain's  father  ?"  ejaculated 
Paul. 

"  In  coure  I  mean  Square  Randle.  Who  else"  is  there,  I'd 
like  to  know,  sence  Square  Meddler  suddenly  stepped  out  ? 
There  isn't  nobody,  and  you  knows  that  as  well  as  I  do,  so  'taint 
no  use  to  make  b'lieve  ignerant." 

"  Then,  I  suppose,  I  may  make  up  my  mind  as  to  the  result 
of  my  examination  before  the  magistrate." 

"  Oh,  in  course,  he'll  commit  you  to  the  county  jug,  till  the 
grand  Jewry — " 

"Whether  he  proves  me  guilty  or  not,  I  have  1:0  doubt,"  in 
terrupted  the  prisoner,  sarcastically. 

"  Wai,  as  to  that,  I  kin  say,  in  course,  there  '11  be  no  diffikilty 
— coz  you  see  his  son  Rewben,  the  plaintiff  in  the  case,  will  gin 
in  his  testimony  to  all  the  grave  facts." 

';  Facts ! — pshaw  ! — humbug !  he'll  testify  to  a  tissue  of  false 
hoods,  which  he  has  undoubtedly  ready  manufactured  for  the 
occasion." 

"  Be  keerful,  young  man — that's  what  the  law  calls  slander 
— and  Square  Randle  won't  'low  anything  to  be  slandered  that 
b'longs  to  him.  You  know  when  the  Square  gets  riled  there's 
so  sich  thing  as  hawin'  or  geein'  on  him.  Now,  let  me  'gin 
you  a  little  bit  o'  good  advice  : — when  I  get  you  safely  inside 
the  Square's  office,  don't  you  begin  to  be  obstropolous,  and  talk 
to  him  as  you  did  jest  now  to  his  son,  Reub:n ;  coz,  if  you  do, 
it'll  go  all-fired  with  you.  Keep  a  sober,  sorry  kind  of  a  coun 
tenance  on,  and  mebbe  he'll  let  you  off  cheap — p'raps  clap  on 
a  fine  of  a  few  dollars  and  costs,  or  send  you  down  to  the  county 
jug  for  two,  three  or  four  months,  or  so." 

These  singular  remarks  of  the  voluble  constable  were  un 
heeded  by  the  prisoner,  whose  mind,  although  his  body  was  in 
the  possession  of  a  constable,  was  absorbed  upon  thoughts  of  a 
matter  much  nearer  his  heart,  which  brought  forth  a  deep  drawn 
sigh,  and  tears  again  glistened  in  his  large,  expressive  eyes. 

"  I'm  kinder  sorry  to  see  you  take  on  so,  in  course  I  is,"  re 
sumed  Spike;  ''  but  if  one  chooses  to  get  hisself  into  a  fix,  in 
course  it's  no  fault  o'  mine.  My  duty  is  straight  for'ard— all 
the  tears  shed  in  town  in  a  year  wouldn't  start  me  a  hair's 
breadth — I'm  firm  as  the  rock  o'  ages,  and  wouldn't  turn  out  o' 
the  path  o'  duty  to  save  all  the  human  beings  in  the  village  from 
starvation  and  eternal  and  everlasting  destitution — no,  in  course 
I  wouldn't.  Duty  is  duty,  though  it  hangs  my  granma'am.  So 


24  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  J    OR, 

come  along,  and  be  peaceable  as  a  cow  'fore  milkin.  If  I  speckt 
the  least  symtum  o'  youre  try  in'  to  gin  me  the  slip,  I'll  jest  slip 
these  ere  ruffles  OH  to  your  two  wrists,  and  they'll  be  as  hard 
and  fast  as  the  Siamese  Twins,  jest  as  I've  had  to  sarve  many 
a  hard  boy  afore  you." 

Now  all  this  voluntary  "  good  advice"  on  the  part  of  the  in 
flexible  constable,  was  entirely  lost  on  his  prisoner.  Paul 
walked  on  peaceably  beside  the  officer,  without  uttering  a  word 
himself,  or  hearing  a  single  word  that  was  addressed  to  him. 
His  eyes  were  bent  on  the  ground,  his  body  moved  mechani 
cally  on,  but  his  thoughts  were  glyding  on  with  the  coach  that 
was  bearing  away,  as  it  were,  his  soul's  treasure.  His  sorrow 
was  too  deep  to  give  one  poor  thought  to  the  peculiarly  unfor 
tunate  circumstances  under  which  the  villany  of  another  had 
placed  him. 

At.  nine  o'clock,  there  was  an  unusual  excitement  in  and 
about  the  little,  low-roofed,  ominous-looking  building,  occupied, 
as  the  sign  over  the  door  purported,  by  "  Ralph  Randall,  Attor 
ney  at  Law,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  the  Quorum,  and 
Notary  Public."  All  the  villagers,  with  the  exception  of  the 
femiriine  portion — and  there  were  a  few  of  these  present — had 
assembled,  eager  with  curiosity  to  know  the  particulars  of  cer 
tain  rumors,  rife  in  the  village,  which  were  extremely  prejudi 
cial  to  the  character  of  our  young  hero,  Paul  Payson.  Some 
said  that  he  had  actually  committed  homicide  ;  others,  that  he 
had  only  made  an  attempt  to  commit  the  awful  crime ;  and 
others,  who  knew  the.parties  well,  declared  with  confidence  that 
it  was  only  a  quarrel,  and  that  the  attorney's  son  had  not  only 
given  the  provocation,  but  had  dealt  the  first  blow. 

Ralph  Randall,  the  village  magistrate,  sat  in  his  office,  in  a 
high-backed  arm-chair,  before  a  table  covered  with  blank  war 
rants,  blank  writs,  a  copy  of  the  Revised  Statutes,  and  the  usual 
variety  of  legal  looking  stationery.  He  was  a  diminutive, 
cadaverous  visaged  man,  with  deep-sunken,  greyish  eyes,  a  thin, 
peaked  nose,  a  wrinkled  brow,  with  his  head  partially  covered 
with  coarse,  iron  gra^r  hair.  He  wore  a  white  cravat,  blue 
spencer  over  a  snuff-colored  dress  coat,  and  mixed  pantaloons, 
which  huug  loosely  about  his  sunken  legs.  When  not  writing 
or  poring  over  his  books,  his  right  hand  was  usually  employed  in 
dangling  a  fob  watch  chain  of  formidable  dimensions,  to  which 
was  suspended  a  number  of  antique  seals,  keys,  &c.  His  voice, 
a  harsh  and  creaking  tenor,  was  about  as  pleasant  to  the  ear  as 
the  swinging  of  a  door,  on  rusty,  ungreased  hinges. 

Randall  sat  in  deep  thought,  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the 
prisoner  ;  who,  he  had  been  informed,  was  already  under  arrest 
A  rush  of  idle  spectators  into  the  narrow  office,  announced  that 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  25 

the  constable,  escorting  the  hero  of  the  occasion,  was  at  hand. 
Paul  entered  the  apartment  with,  a  firm  and  dignified  tread,  and 
confronted  the  man  whom  he  had  the  best  of  reasons  for  hating 
with  his  whole  soul.  In  a  few  moments  afterwards,  the  accu 
ser,  the  magistrate's  son  Reuben,  entered. 

"Constable  Spike!"  squeaked  the  attorney. 

"  Here,  your  honor,"  answered  Spike,  making  an  obsequious 
bow. 

"Which  is  the  accused  ?" 

"Mister  Paul  Payson,  your  honor,"  replied  Spike,  laying  his 
huge  paw  upon  his  prisoner's  shoulder. 

The  magistrate  read  the  complaint,  and  then  asked — 

"  Which  is  the  accuser  ?" 

"In  course  your  honor  knows  your  own  son,"  replied  the 
constable. 

"Hem  ! — my  son — yes — exactly,"  observed  Randall,  slightly 
disconcerted.  "  Reuben  Randall,  stand  up — hem ! — hold  up 
your  right  hand.  You  solemnly  swear — hem  ! — that  the  evi, 
dence  which  you  shall  give  in  the  case  now  pending,  shall  be 
the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth — so  help 
you,  hem  ! — " 

Reuben's  hand  dropped — the  last  word  was  not  sufficiently 
audible  for  the  audience  to  hear,  and  it  is  a  mooted  point  to  this 
day,  whether  the  sharkish  magistrate  uttered  the  final  word  of 
the  oath,  or  whether  it  stuck  in  his  throat.  Most  probably  the 
latter. 

"  Well,  Reuben,  what  do  you  know  of  this  matter  ?"  inquired 
his  father.  "  You  are  under  a  solemn  oath — remember  that — 
hem  !" 

"  Last  evening,"  commenced  the  accusing  witness,  "  as  1  was 
quietly  walking  in  yonder  grove,  near  the  pond,«I  overheard  two 
persons  engaged  in  conversation,  and,  accidentally  hearing  my 
name  fall  from  the  lips  of  one  of  them,  my  curiosity  became 
sufficiently  excited  to  know  the  precise  purport  of  their  remarks. 
For  this  purpose  I  tarried  behind  a  large  oak  tree,  and  listened, 
when  I  heard  the  prisoner  here  uttering  the  most  slanderous 
expressions  against  you  and  myself " 

"  Slander !  ah  ha  !"  interrupted  the  magistrate  ;  *'  hem !  slan 
der's  an  indictable  offence — never  should  go  unpunished — 
never !  hem  !  To  whom  were  his  slanderous  expressions  ut 
tered  ?" 

"  To  Miss  Seabury — Sylvia  Seabury !"  replied  the  witness. 

"Ah  '  he  wished  to  poison  her  ears  with  slanderous  charges 
against  jou  !  hern  ! — I  understand — go  on  !" 

"  I  heard  him  say  that  you  was  a  mean,  pettifogging,  hoary- 
beaded  ol  <ri'lain !" 


26  YANKEES  :N  JAPAN;  OR, 

"  Eh  ?''  essayed  old  Ralph,  grinning  a  revengeful  and  ghastly 
smile  at  the  unmoved  prisoner. 

"  He  declared,  too,  that  you  had  swindled  his  father  out  of 
his  lands ;  in  fact  that  you  had  cheated  every  farmer  in  the 
neighborhood  !" 

"  He  did,  did  he  ?  Oh,  he  shall  pay  dearly  for  this  !"  mut 
tered  the  magistrate,  grinding  his  teeth  with  anger.  "  Proceed." 

"  He  furthermore  said,"  continued  the  fast  witness,  "  that 
when  you  settled  in  the  village,  you  was  not  worth  a  copper, 
and  that  there  was  not  a  poor  man  in  the  whole  neighborhood ; 
but  now  you  had  got  rich  by  reducing  to  poverty  every  in 
habitant." 

"  Trew,  by  hookey,  as  the  book  o'  Corinthians !"  sang  out 
some  one  in  the  rear  of  the  crowd  of  spectators. 

"  Silence  !"  squeaked  out  the  magistrate,  angrily  ;  "  who  said 
'true?'  S.pike !  search  out  the  wretch  who  dares  to  inteH- 
rupt  the  court." 

"  Yes,  yer  honor,"  responded  Spike. 

"  So,  Mr.  Witness,  the  prisoner  uttered  that  slander,  did  he  ?' 

"  On  my  oath,  he  did." 

"  Oh,  but  he  shall  pay  for  this  !"  muttered  the  attorney,  in 
low  but  emphatic  tones.  "  His  father,  too,  shall  suffer  dearly 
for  teaching  his  son  to  assail  the  characters  of  his  betters,  I'i] 
distress  him,  if  there  is  any  virtue  in  the  law.  Go  on,  Reuben, 
go  on." 

"  Mr.  Magistrate,"  asked  one  of  the  spectators ;  "  I  thought 
the  prisoner  was  brought  here  to  be  examined  on  a  charge  of 
attempting  to  murder  your  son." 

"Hem — that  is  the  charge,  Farmer  Williams!"  answered 
Randall. 

"  1  merely  thought  you  were  attempting  to  make  out  a  case 
of  slander  against  him,"  observed  the  farmer,  drily. 

"  What  right,  sir,  have  you  to  interrupt  the  court  ?"  de 
manded  the  magistrate,  angrily. 

"  I  came  here  to  see  fair  play,"  returned  the  farmer  ;  "  and 
as  I  know  something  about  the  affair,  I  claim  the  right  of  being 
heard !" 

"  Spike  !  Spike  !"  cried  Ralph.  "  Silence  in  the  court !  See 
that  we  are  not  again  interrupted.  Go  on,  my  son." 

The  witness  proceeded  as  follows  : 

"  After  hearing  these  and  many  like  expressions,  and  until  I 
could  no  longer  bear  to  hear  you  thus  grossly  calumniated,  I 
appeared  suddenly  before  the  slanderer,  and  demanded  instant 
satisfaction  for  the  foul  language  he  had  uttered  both  against 
you  and  me.  My  demand  was  treated  with  utter  contempt. 
I  then  threatened  him  with  prosecution  if  he  did  not  retract 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  27 

the  foul  statements  he  had  made,  to  Miss  Seabury,  whereupon 
he  snatched  from  me  a  heavy  cane  which  I  had  in  my  hano, 
and  with  it  struck  me  on  the  head  a  heavy  blow,  the  weight  of 
which  felled  me  to  the  earth,  and  almost  stunned  me.  Before 
I  could  recover  myself,  he  took  me  by  the  arms,  dragged  me  to 
the  edge  of  the  rock,  and  brutally  threw  me  into  the  pond, 
where,  if  the  water  had  been  sufficiently  deep,  I  should  have 
drowned  !" 

"Horrible!  horrible!"  muttered  the  attorney,  inaudibly. 

"1  was  so  weak,"  resumed  Reuben,  "that  I  could  scarcely 
stand,  but  by  dint  of  great  effort,  I  was  enabled  to  crawl  out. 
and  reach  the  shore  !" 

"A  most  miraculous  escape!"  said  the  attorney,  on  the 
breath  of  a  deep  drawn  sigh. 

"  All  of  which  I  believe  and  know  to  be  a  gross  fabrication, 
with  the  exception  of  the  ducking,  which  punishment  your  SOL 
most  richly  deserved !"  declared  Farmer  Williams,  in  loud  and 
bold  tones. 

"  Silence  the  court !''  squeaked  out  the  little  magistrate 
"I'll  have  you  commuted  for  contempt  of  court,  if  you  conti 
nue  to  disturb  its  proceedings." 

"  Silence  the  court !"  echoed  Spike,  with  a  stentorian  effort. 
"  The  examination  can't  go  on  without  order  in  court — in  course 
it  can't." 

"  I  claim  a  right  to  be  heard  in  behalf  of  the  prisoner,"  per 
sisted  Farmer  Williams. 

"  Well,  what  do  you  know  about  it  ?" 

"  I  know  your  son  to  be  a  libertine,  a  liar,  and  the  greatest 
scape-grace  that  ever  appeared  in  our  village,  and,  therefore, 
not  to  be  believed  under  oath !"  exclaimed  the  sturdy  farmer 
indignantly. 

"  Slander !  vile  slander !  actionable  slander !  by  all  that's 
legal!  Dearly  you  shall  suffer  for  this!"  muttered  the  magis 
trate. 

"Dang  it  all,  'Squire,"  said  an  athletic  rustic, — the  same  per 
son  who  had  once  before  interrupted  the  court, — '*  do  you  call 
telling  the  trewth,  slander  ?  I  know  what  Farmer  Williams 
says  is  gospil  trewth — and,  dod  rot  it,  Square,  he  hain't  let  on 
more'n  half  he  knows — he  hain't,  by  jerewsalem  !" 

"  Spike,  I  command  you  to  arrest  that  man  for  contempt  of 
court !"  cried  the  attorney. 

"  Spike,  if  you  can  guess  any  where  nigh  which  side  your 
bread  is  buttered  on  you'll  dew  no  sich  thing,"  said  the  rustic, 
with  a  threatening  look. 

"I'll  have  you  indicted  for  mal-practice,"  added  Williams, 
eonfronting  the  magistrate,  with  a  serious  and  determined  as- 


28  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  ;    OR, 

pect,  "I  know  something  of  your  tricks  and  your  quirks. 
Once  more  I  declare,  in  the  presence  of  all  here  assembled,  that 
the  prisoner,  Paul  Payson,  is  innocent  of  even  having  com 
mitted  a  breach  of  the  peace,  excepting  in  his  own  proper  and 
lawful  defence." 

Even  the  magistrate  was  awed  by  the  resolute  and  deter 
mined  manner  of  Farmer  Williams,  who,  he  well  knew,  was  a 
man  much  respected  by  the  whole  village,  and  whose  influence 
was  such  as  to  cause  him  to  feel  that  it  would  be  unsafe  to 
hazard,  on  that  occasion,  an  open  collision  with. 

"  Young  man,"  said  the  attorney,  unheeding  the  bold  farmer, 
and  addressing  the  prisoner ;  "  what  have  you  to  say  in  de 
fence  of  the  charges  alleged  against  you?" 

"Nothing — to  you!"  replied  Paul;  "I  would'nt  trust  the 
fate  of  a  dog  in  your  hands  !" 

"  Then  your  case  must  go  to  the  Grand  Jury,"  said  the  ma 
gistrate.  "  You  are  required  to  give  bonds  in  the  sum  of  five 
thousand  dollars,  for  your  appearance  at  the  Common  Pleas 

Court,  to  be  holden  at .  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  August 

next.  In  default  of  which  you  must  be  taken  to  the  county 
jail,  there  to  await  your  trial — hem  !" 

'  Monstrous  !"  exclaimed  Farmer  Williams. 

'Silence  the  court!"  again  squeaked  the  attorney. 

'  Silence  the  court !"  bellowed  Spike. 

'  Make  out  his  bail-bond,"  said  Williams,  stepping  forward, 
"  1 11  be  his  surety.  The  young  man  shall  not  step  foot  inside 
of  a  jail  if  I  have  the  power  to  prevent  it." 

"  I  cannot  permit  this,  my  kind  friend,"  said  the  prisoner. 
'  Let  the  unmitigated  villain  do  his  worst.  I'll  go  to  jail ;  and 
let  me  thank  you  for  the  kindness  you  have  evinced  towards 
me." 

"But  I  insist  on  signing  the  bond!"  said  the  farmer. 

"  And  I  insist  that  you  shall  not !"  replied  Paul,  snatching 
the  blank  form  which  the  magistrate  was  filling  up,  and  tearing 
it  in  pieces,  he  strewed  the  fragments  upon  the  floor.  "  There, 
1  am  resolved  to  abide  the  worst ;  but  a  day  will  come  when  I 
shall  triumph  over  this  contemptible,  pettifogging  villain, 
and ' 

"  The  court's  adjourned!  clear  the  office!"  interrupted  the 
attorney.  "  Spike  !  this  way — see  to  your  prisoner." 

"I've  two  on  'm  your  honor,"  said  the  constable.  "Here's 
Zabdiel  Stubbs  'rested  for  contempt  o'  court,  you  know." 

"  Right,  Spike,  right! — hem  !  We  must  teach  these  unman 
nerly  burnkins  what  is  due  to  the  majesty  of  the  law.  We 
must  make  an  example  of  this  Stubbs." 

"I   tell  you   what 'tis,  Square   Handle,"  observed  Zabdiel ; 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  29 

"  if  you  intend  'this  as  a  joke,  you've  carried  it  e'en  jest  abou. 
far  enough  ;  but  if  you're  in  earnest,  why,  dod  rot  it,  jug  me, 
and  see  who'll  come  out  best,  in  the  eend," 

"  Silence  !"  commanded  the  magistrate.  "  You're  ordered  to 
jail  for  thirty  days !" 

"  Wai,  I  calkilate  that's  rayther  tough,  Square,"  said  Zabdiel, 
"  but  I  don't  keer  a  fope,  seein'  as  how  you've  bound  Paul 
over ;  on  the  hull  I'm  rayther  glad  on't,  for  he'd  be  all-fired 
lonesome  without  me." 

"  Spike,  remove  the  prisoners  !"  ordered  the  attorney,  en 
raged  at  the  remarks  of  the  rustic,  as  well  as  of  others  who 
were  lingering  about  the  office,  and  who  commented  with  the 
utmost  freedom  upon  the  character  of  the  pest  of  the  village. 

Thus  ended  this  judicial  farce. 

An  hour  before  sunset  on  that  day,  a  covered,  vehicle  might 
have  been  seen  rolling  at  a  moderate  speed  along  the  road 
leading  through  a  forest  of  oaks  and  maples,  at  a  distance  of 
about  ten  miles  from  the  scene  of  the  occurrences  just  described. 
Four  persons  occupied  the  vehicle,  and  it  being  a  lumbering 
affair,  and  but  one  raw-boned  horse  to  draw  it,  will  account  for 
the  slowness  of  its  progress.  The  occupants  of  the  back  seats 
were  none  other  than  Paul  Payson  and  Zabdiel  Stubbs,  pri 
soners  of  Constable  Spike,  who,  with  the  driver,  occupied  the 
front  seats. 

"Come,  driver,  whip  up  the  old  beast,"  urged  Spike,  getting 
impatient;  "  at  this  rate  we  shall  get  into  the  middle  o' next 
week,  'fore  we  land  the  pris'ners." 

"Spike,  I  tell  you  what  'tis"  said  Jehu;  "I've  no  heart  in 
this  business." 

"Well,  what's  that  to  you  or  to  me,"  returned  Spike. 
"  Duty  is  duty,  and  we  must  follow  its  track  if  it  leads  into  a 
quagmire,  in  course  we  must.  I  'spose  you're  one  o'  them 
chaps  what  thinks  Squire  Handle  a  hard-hearted  man.  That's 
all  very  natural  to  him  what  knows  nothing  about  the  respon 
sibilities  of  the  law,  in  course  'tis;  but  I've  had  some  experience 
— ten  years  a  constable  ought  to  make  a  man  know  something 
about  the  twists  and  turns  of  the  perfession,  in  course  it  ought 
— and  I  tell  you  that  the  Squire  is  an  abused  man ;  the  fault  's 
in  the  law  if  it's  any  where.  Folks  don't  see  as  how  a  justice's 
duty  is  marked  out  as  straight  as  a  liberty  pole,  and  he  darsent 
go  crooked,  coz  if  he  did,  he'd  be  'peached  at  once,  and  then 
he's -nigh  about  ruined  ;  don't  you  see?  in  course  you  duz." 

"  No,  Spike,  *  don't  see,"  answered  Jehu ;  "  I  believe  old  grey, 
scalp  is  just  what  everybody  says  he  is  ;  a  sneaking,  swindling, 
old  rascal — " 


30  YANKEES    IN    JAFAN  \    OR, 

«  Stop — stop,"  cautioned  Spike  ;  "  that's  slanderous  language, 
and  I  'vise  you  as  a  friend  not  to  say  that  to  anybody  else,  coz 
if  you  do  the  Squire'll  get  hold  on't,  and  he'll  put  you  through 
a  course  o'  law — in  course  he  will." 

"  Gammon,  Spike,"  said  Jehu  ;  "  you'll  be  the  first  one  to  tell 
the  old  greyscalp  my  candid  opinion  of  him ;  but  who  cares — 
he'd  make  more  money  scraping  pistareens  than  he  could  ever 
squeeze  out  o'  this  child." 

"  Ha  !  what's  that  ?"  ejaculated  Spike,  as  he  saw  a  strange 
i/bject  dart  from  the  wood  into  the  road,  and  suddenly  dart  back 
again. 

"  Why,  Spike,"  shid  Jehu,  unconcernedly,  "  I  thought  every 
body  knew  that  this  wood  is  haunted." 

"  Ha-ha-haunted  !"  stammered  Spike,  with  considerable  agi 
tation,  "  haunted  with  what  ?" 

"With  burglars,  robbers  and  cut-throats!"  replied  Jehu. 

"  You  can't  be  in  arnest — in  course  you  cant.  Oh,  dear! 
there  'tis  agin." 

"  Why,  what  are  you  frightened  at,  Spike  ?'  asked  Jehu.  "A 
constable  should  never  be  frightened  at  thieves  or  cut-throats. 
Of  course  you  carry  pistols?" 

"  In  course  I  do ;  but  they  hain't  loaded.  What's  to  be  done 
then,  if  we  should  be  attacked  ?" 

"  Fight ! — fight  as  long  as  there's  a  drop  of  blood  left  in  our 
veins  !"  answered  Jehu,  heroically. 

The  sun  had  now  set,  and  the  shadows  of  that  lonely  wood 
were  fast  deepening.  Spike  grew  uneasy,  for  he  imagined  a 
variety  of  evils  that  might  beset  his  path.  He  was  a  coward, 
as  most  constables  are,  and  this  weakness  in  him  was  well  known 
to  Jehu.  Then  there  was  something  very  mysterious  in  Jehu's 
conduct.  He  was  known  to  be  famous  for  "  putting  the  ani 
mals  through  ;"  but  on  this  occasion,  for  some  reason  quite  un 
accountable  to  Spike,  they  didn't  progress  on  their  journey 
scarcely  three  knots  an  hour.  True,  Jehu  had  given  a  multi 
plicity  of  reasons,  such  as-i-the  load  was  too  heavy  for  one 
horse  to  draw ;  the  vehicle  was  a  lumbering  old  thing,  and  had'nt 
been  greased  since  last  thanksgiving ;  the  ruts  were  uncom 
monly  deep,  the  animal  had  cast  a  shoe,  hadn't  had  his  oats, 
went  on  a  long  journey  the  day  previous,  &c.,  &c.  ;  all  of 
which,  "in  course,"  was  very  annoying  to  the  timid  constable 
under  the  circumstances. 

''Can't  you  drive  a  leetle  faster?"  asked  Spike,  in  tones  of 
entreaty. 

"Not  a  hitch  ;  don't  you  see  the  old  nag  is  nearly  tuckered 
out ;  besides,  there's  no  sense  in  hurrying  when  we've  got  all 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  31 

night  afore  us.     You  seem  a  little  scared,  Spike  ;  I  thought  you 
was  a  man  of  pluck." 

"  In  course  1  is,  and  I  ain't  scared,  nuther ;  but  I  want  to  get 
to  the  jail  Tore  mid — " 

Spike's  sentence  was  cut  short  by  a  loud  whoop,  which  fairly 
made  the  welkin  ring,  and,  suddenly,  a  score  or  more  of  men, 
with  painted  faces,  and  dressed  in  all  sorts  of  fantastic  apparel, 
rushed  into  the  road,  and  intercepted  the  progress  of  the 
vehicle. 

Frightened  beyond  description,  the  village  constable  leaped 
into  the  road,  and  fell  upon  his  knees  before  a  stalwart  fellow, 
who  appeared  to  be  the  ringleader  of  this  strange  body  of  men. 

"Mercy!  oh,  mercy !"  prayed  Spike;  "take  all  I  have — 
here's  my  pocket-book,  watch,  chain  and  all — but,  oh,  spare  my 
life !" 

While  Spike  was  pleading  lustily  for  his  life,  some  of  the 
gang  had  released  the  two  prisoners,  and  hurried  them  into  the 
woods,  while  Jehu  had  managed  to  turn  his  vehicle  about,  and 
giving  his  "  sleepy  David,"  a  crack  or  two  about  the  ears,  and 
the  animal  galloped  off  with  the  speed  of  a  race-horse  !  Yells 
of  "  stop  him !  stop  him !"  from  the  outlaws  were  heard,  but 
none  volunteered  to  go  in  pursuit ;  thus  Jehu  got  off  safely  with 
his  horse  and  vehicle,  (as  he  undoubtedly  anticipated,)  leaving 
poor  Spike  in  the  hands  of  the  bloody  thieves  and  cut-throats, 
as  he  really  supposed  them  to  be. 

In  spite  of  the  offer  to  deliver  up  his  money  and  other  valua 
bles,  and  his  earnest  entreaties  to  be  freed  from  their  hands,  they 
seized  him,  and  dragged  him  to  an  oak  tree  beside  the  road.  A 
strong  cord  was  produced  by  one  of  the  gang,  which,  Spike 
discovering  and  surmising  the  worst,  caused  him  again  to  break 
forth  in  the  most  piteous  exclamations  of  entreaty.  He  verily 
thought  he  was  to  be  strung  up  by  the  neck,  like  a  dog,  to  die  ! 
and  for  many  minutes  did  his  unknown  tormentors  take  no  pains 
to  relieve  his  mind  of  the  horrible  idea  he  so  strongly  enter 
tained  !  Death,  in  the  most  ignominious  form,  stared  him  in 
ihe  face,  and  his  brain  was  racked  with  the  keenest  torture ! 

After  really  enjoying  the  sufferings  of  the  obnoxious  consta 
ble  as  long  as  was  desirable,  they  relieved  him  of  the  awful 
suspense  by  putting  the  slip  noose  around  his  waist,  instead  of 
\bout  his  neck  ;  then  drawing  him  closely  to  the  trunk  of  the 
U'ee,  they  bound  him  so  closely  to  it  that  he  could  neither  move 
limbs  or  body. 

In  this  sad  plight  poor  Spike  was  left,  as  he  supposed  for  the 
night,  for,  as  the  road  was  little  travelled,  it  would  be  by  the 
merest  chance  that  any  one  would  be  passing  that  way  before 
another  day.  So,  our  constable  determined  to  put  the  best  face 


S2  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  J    OR, 

on  the  matter  possible,  and  philosophically  resigned  himself  tl 
his  fate.  In  truth,  he  felt  himself  comparatively  happy,  to  think 
he  was  not  dangling  in  the  air  at  the  end  of  a  rope.  As  yet, 
he  had  suffered  no  bodily  injury,  and  the  only  fears  that  he  en 
tertained  were,  that  some  wild  beast  might  scent  him  out  and 
devour  him,  or  that  the  gang  of  cut-throats,  burglars,  or  what 
ever  they  were,  might  return. 

The  midnight  hour  arrived.  For  five  hours  had  Spike  been 
hard  and  fast  to  the  tree,  which  hours  seemed  to  him  quite  the 
length  of  as  many  days.  He  now  became  drowsy  and  would 
have  slept,  had  he  not  been  aroused  by  the  rolling  of  carriage 
wheels,  and  the  tramp  of  horses'  feet. 

"  Heaven  be  praised  !  Relief  is  at  hand  !"  exclaimed  Spike, 
and  then  he  commenced  yelling  with  the  utmost  power  of  his 
lungs,  all  sorts  of  piteous  cries,  which,  attracting  the  attention 
of  the  occupants  of  the  vehicle,  it  halted  near  the  spot  where 
Spike  was  confined. 

"  Who's  there  ?"  demanded  one  of  the  strangers. 

"  It  is  I,  Phil  Spike,  constable  of !"  he  replied,  "  I've  beer. 

robbed,  nearly  murdered,  and  tied  to  a  tree  ;  and  oh,  if  you've 
any  compassion  on  a  poor,  suff 'ring  mortal,  you  will  release  me 
— in  course  you  will." 

"Sure  enough — it  is  constable  Spike,"  said  one  of  the  stran 
gers,  as  they  both  leaped  from  the  carriage  and  approached  him 
"how  came  you  in  this  predicament  ?" 

"Ha,  ha,  ha!"  laughed  the  victim,  with  sudden  joy;  "why 
neighbor  Stiles,,  that's  you ;  and  Bill  Sparrygrass,  too !  why, 
how  all-natured  glad  I  am  to  see  you — in  course  I  is." 

"  But  how  came  you  here,  Spike  ?"  again  asked  Stiles. 

"  I  and  Jehu  Jenkins  were  attacked  by  a  band  o'  robbers ; 
Jehu  managed  to  clear,  and  I  was  left  to  fight  'erA  alone  ;  I 
stood  my  ground  a  long  time,  but  human  pluck  couldn't  fight 
long  agin  sich  odds ;  they  at  last  overpowered  me,  tied  me  t« 
this  tree — and,  and — now  you  untie  me,  in  course  you  will,  and 
you  shall  have  all  the  perticklers." 

With  as  much  gravity  as  their  knowledge  of  the  whole  affair 
would  permit,  Spike's  neighbors  proceeded  to  undo  that  which 
they  in  fact  had  assisted,  but  a  few  hours  previous,  in  doing, 
though  without  in  the  least  being  suspected  by  their  victim. 

Spike  was  invited  to  ride  home  in  the  vehicle,  and  a  happier 
or  more  apparently  grateful  creature  was  scarcely  ever  seen. 

But  what  of  the  prisoners,  Paul  Payson  and  Zabdiel  Stubbs  ? 
Our  readers,  we  presume,  require  no  detailed  account  of  the 
singular  transaction,  and  it  is  hardly  necessary  for  us  to  say 
that  Spike's  band  of  robbers  were  .the  prisoners'  friends,  who 
had  determined  upon  this  course  to  rescue  them  from  the  hands 


.rax  OBMIS  or  THE  MUTINY. 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  33 

of  the  law,  which  they  did  effectually,  having  taken  them  to  a 
carriage  not  far  distant,  and  driving  them  twenty  miles  in  an 
easterly  direction  that  night ;  and  it  was  the  identical  Vehicle 
?hich  conveyed  the  prisoners  away,  that  brought  the  constable 
;o  his  home. 

The  slight  incidents  which  followed,  up  to  the  time  of  their 
>mbarkation  on  board  the  King  Philip  are  hardly  worthy  of 
letail ;  but  subsequent  events  are  of  that  character  which  will 
}ause  us  to  follow  them  over  the  ocean,  and  to  that  magnificent 
md  comparatively  unknown  country,  which  is  commanding  the 
attention  of  Europe,  and  with  which  Brother  Jonathan  ia 
tesolved  to  become  better  acqu°;<n*«»d. 


36  VANKEES  IN  JAPAN  ; 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  Whaler — A  Mutinous  Plot  Discovered — The  Tempest— 
"  Breakers  ahead" — The  Whirlpool. 

FAR,  far  away,  on  the  Pacific  ocean,  and  in  view  of  the  great 
Islands  of  Niphon,  Kiooso,  and  Sitkokf,  composing  the  chief 
part  of  the  territory  of  the  Japanese  Empire,  a  large  but 
weather-beaten  ship  lay  becalmed.  For  the  ten  previous  days 
she  had  experienced  severe  gales,  had  been  driven  off  her 
course,  and  twice  came  near  being  wrecked  among  the  Kurile 
Islands ;  but  she  had  weathered  the  storms  of  that  dangerous 
coast ;  and  now,  scarcely  a  -breath  of  air  disturbed  the  glassy 
surface  of  the  mighty  sea,  the  skies  were  bright  and  clear,  and 
<,he  atmosphere  bland,  presenting  a  strong  contrast  to  the  raging 
rf  the  elements  on  the  preceding  days. 

That  ship  was  the  whaler,  King  Philip.     Thirty  months  had 

elapsed  since  she  weighed  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  N , 

and  so  strangely  had  she  altered  hi  appearance,  that  one,  to 
whom  she  was  known,  would  scarcely  have  recognized  her. 
Hull,  spars,  rigging  and  sails,  had  undergone  a  complete  meta 
morphose.  But  if  the  ship  had  changed,  what  shall  we  say  of 
her  crew  ?  She  had  commenced  her  cruise  with  a  crew  of 
American  seamen,  but  now  there  were  Malays,  Coreans  and 
Kanackas  aboard,  some  of  the  Americans  having  deserted  while 
in  various  ports,  and  others  having  lost  their  lives  by  sickness 
and  in  casualties  incident  to  the  capturing  of  whales  ;  and,  it 
being  impossible  to  supply  their  places  with  Americans  or 
Europeans,  Captain  Harold  was  necessitated  to  resort  to  the 
shipping  of  native  Islanders.  But  the  change  did  not  stop  here 
It  would  have  been  difficult,  even  for  an  old  acquaintance,  to 
have  recognized  the  officers,  or  the  Americans  of  that  ship's 
company.  Most  of  them  wore  beards  hanging  to  their  breasts, 
and  the  hair  of  their  heads  flowed  over  their  shoulders  in  great 
profusion  ;  their  apparel  was  made  mostly  of  the  skins  of  seals 
and  sea-lions,  which,  altogether,  rendered  them,  in  appearance. 
as  savagely  grotesque  as  one  could  possibly  imagine.  For  the 


THE    ROMANTiO    ADvENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  87 

most  part  of  the  time  she  had  cruised  off  Kamschatska,  and 
farther  north,  and  this  was  the  first  day  of  mild  weather  expe- 
-leneed  by  the  crew  for  many  months.  She  had  obtained  some 
three  thousand  barrels  of  oil,  which,  with  a  large  quantity  of 
bone  and  ivory,  made  a  full  and  valuable  cargo,  and,  to  the  joy 
of  most  of  the  Yankees  aboard,  she  was  homeward  bound,  in 
tending  to  stop  at  the  Loo  Choo  Islands,  for  the  purpose  of 
taking  in  a  supply  of  provisions  and  water,  and  in  paying  off 
and  discharging  the  Islanders  aboard. 

Yet  there  were  several  among  the  King  Philip's  crew,  who 
were  determined  that  she  should  never  reach  her  destined  port ; 
indeed,  there  was  a  conspiracy  hatching  among  them,  which 
had  already  become  quite  formidable,  to  murdter  the  captain 
and  the  first  officer,  and  all  who  would  not  join  them  ;  then,  to 
seize  Jtbe  ship  and.  make  for  some  port,  where  they  might  safely 
dispose  of  the  vessel  and  her  cargo. 

At  the  head  of  this  wicked  conspiracy,  was  the  second  mate, 
Martin  Cumstock,  or  Shaggy  Mart,  as  the  crew  called  him. 
He  shipped  as  an  able  seaman,  but  the  second  mate  having 
died  on  the  outward  passage,  Cumstock  was  promoted.  He 
was  a  s'out,  burly  fellow,  and  was  known  to  possess  consider 
able  knowledge  of  navigation,  besides  possessing  the  qualities 
of  cunning,  shrewdness,  and  courage. 

At  the  time  of  the  ship's  being  becalmed  off  the  Japanese 
coast,  the  mutineers  were  nearly  prepared  to  put  their  diabo 
lical  plans  into  operation.  The  Malays,  Coreans  and  Kanackas 
were  nearly  all  enlisted  ;  but  there  was  one  man,  they  yet  de 
sired  to  win  over  to  their  cause,  for  it  was  strongly  suspected 
by  Shaggy  Mart  that,  from  some  hint  he  had  thrown  out,  he 
had  gained  some  knowledge  of  their  fell  intentions.  This  indi 
vidual  was  none  other  than  our  Yankee  friend,  Zabdiel  Stubbs, 
who,  although  he  had  become  a  thorough  seaman,  an  experi 
enced  whaleman,  and  could  chew  as  much  tobacco  as  any  man 
aboard  ship,  he  had  not  quite  adopted  the  slang  phrases  of  a 
sailor  in  lieu  of  the  dialect  peculiar  to  many  Yankee  back 
woodsman. 

It  so  happened  that  Stubbs  belonged  to  the  second  mate's 
watch,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  day  referred  to,  this  officer 
having  dispersed  his  men  to  different  parts  of  the  ship,  to  per 
form  various  duties,  he  took  the  opportunity  to  "  sound"  Zab 
in  regard  to  the  bloody  enterprise  of  which  he  was  the  acknow 
ledged  leader. 

Zab  was  seated  on  an  inverted  slush  bucket,  near  the  fore 
hatch,  busily  scraping  a  whale's  tooth,  which  he  was  endeavoring 
to  fashion  into  the  hull  of  a  ship,  at  the  same  time  whistling  his 
favorite  air  of  "  Hail  Columbia."  The  second  mate  approached 


38  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  ;    OR, 

and  in  as  pleasant  a  manner  as  his  rough  nature  would  permit, 
thus  accosted  him : 

"  How  many  ivory  baubles  have  you  manufactured,  Slubbs, 
during  the  cruise  ?" 

"  Wai,  I  guess,  about  half  a  trunk  fullr  as  nigh  as  I  can  cal- 
kilate,"  answered  Zab,  without  raising  his  eyes  from  the  work 

"  And  what  do  you  intend  to  do  with  them,  when  the  cruise 
is  up  ?" 

"  Wai,  I  calkilate  to  sell  most  on  'em,  and  them  what  ain't, 
harnsum  enough  to  sell,  I  recken  I'll  give  to  aunt  Jerewsha's 
gals — mighty  slick  gals  them — there's  Peg,  she's  almighty  harn 
sum,  and  Suke  so  spry  I've  seen  her  leap  a  five-barred  gate 
without  stubbin'  her  toes." 

"  How  much  do  you  expect  your  trinkets  will  sell  for  ?' 

'•  As  nigh  as  I've  figgered  it,  about  a  quarter  as  much  Vis  my 
share  o'  the  ile." 

"  And  what  do  you  estimate  your  share  of  the  '  ile'  at  ?" 

"  Wai,  nigh  about  a  thousand  dollars,  if  we  have  a  pros 
perous  vige  hum.," 

"  Wouldn't  you  like  it  better,"  pursued  the  mutineer,  "  if 
you  could  carry  home  the  handsome  sum  of  ten  thousand  dol 
lars  instead  of  one  thousand  ?" 

"Harpoons  and  marlinspikes!"  exclaimed  Z;ib,  looking  up 
into  Cumstock's  face;  "whoit  a  question  for  one  Yankee  to  put 
to  another.  Jest  you  pint  out  the  way  for  Zabdiel  Stubbs  to 
go  hum  wuth  the  snug  fortin  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  cuss 
his  picter  if  he's  ever  caught  out  a  blubber  huntin'  agin." 

"  If  the  value  of  this  ship  and  cargo  were  divided  among 
eighteen  or  twenty  good  fellows,  each  man  would  not  receive 
much  less  than  ten  thousand  dollars,"  said  the  second  mate, 
suggestively. 

"  Trevv,"  replied  Zab  ;  "but  the  valy  of  the  ship  ain't  to  be 
divided  at  all ;  and  as  for  the  ile,  the  owners  you  know  receive 
the  lion's  share,  then  the  cap'n  he  comes  in  for  the  next  biggest 
pile,  then  the  mates,  then  the  petty  officers,  then  the  men,  they 
come  last,  and  get  "the  least — that's  the  way  on't." 

"  Precisely  ;  those  who  do  nothing,  get  the  most ;  those  who 
get  all  the  hard  knocks,  and  peril  life  to  make  the  rich  richer, 
get  but  the  jackall's  share." 

"That's  the  nater  o'  things,  at  hum  and  abroad,"  added 
Zab ;  "  it  alus  v/as  so  and  alus  will  be  ;  and  you  might  as  weB 
try  to  make  the  airth^revolve  round  tother  way,  and  water  run 
up  hill  as  to  try  to  alter  it." 

"  Not  so,"  said  Cumstock  ;  "  for  instance :  who  are  most 
powerful  aboard  the  King  Philip,  the  officers  or  the  crew  ?" 

"  Wai,  I  reckon  in  a  fair  knock  down  fight,  the  officen 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY;  39 

would  stand  a  mighty  smart  chance  o'  gettin'  chawed  up,"  an 
swered  'Zab,  without  betraying  a  very  strong  suspicion  he  en 
tertained  of  the  second  mate's  real  intentions. 

"  There's  no  doubt  of  it,"  returned  the  other,  energetically ; 
"  and,  according  to  the  doctrine  that  might  makes  right,  this 
ship  and  cargo  might  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  crew !" 

''  Exactly/'  coincided  Zab  ;  "  and  accordin'  to  the  doctrine 
laid  down  in  the  law,  if  the  crew  undertook  any  sich  job,  every 
man  on  Jem  would  have  to  dance  their  last  jig  on  nothin'." 

"  Yes,  if  they  were  all  d — d  fools  enough  to  be  caught," 
added  the  second  mate ;  "  but  to  a  crew  situated  like  this,  for 
example,  there  would  be  but  slight  risk.  Suppose  now,  the 
men  of  this  ship  should  take  possession  of  her,  go  to  some  port, 
frequented  but  seldom  if  ever  by  American  vessels,  dispose  of 
her  and  her  cargo,  after  changing  her  name ;  then  cause  a  re 
port  to  be  promulgated  that  the  King  Philip  was  lost  on  the 
coast  of  Japan,  or  foundered  at  sea  ;  the  actors  in  such  an  en 
terprise  might  remain  in  perfect  safety  so  far  as  any  danger  of 
ever  being  called  to  account  for  it." 

"  Wai,  I  do'no  about  that,"  said  Zab.  "  Mebbe  they  might 
and  ,mebbe  they  mightn't ;  howsomever,  Mr.  Cumstock,  I 
reckon  you  would'nt  dare  to  lead  on  in  sich  a  grab-game 
bizness." 

"  Wouldn't  I  ?  Give  me  twenty-five  lusty  fellows  like  your 
self,  and  try  me,"  said  the  mate,  boldly.  "I've  got  tired  of  this 
slavish  life.  I  would  strike  a  bold  blow  for  a  fortune  ! — what 
say  you  ?" 

"  I  shouldn't  mind  doin'  a  great  many  things  for  a  fortin," 
said  Zab. 

"  Then  we  may  count  upon  you  as  one  of  us  ?" 

"  I'm  one  o'  the  King  Philip's  already." 

"  Ay  ;  but  you  know  my  meaning  ?" 

"Wai,  I  kinder  guess  what  you're  drivin'  at,"  replied  Stubbs, 
"  you  calkilate  on  gettin'  up  a  mutiny,  pitch  the  old  man  over 
board,  and  other  things  tew  numerous  tew  mention." 

"You  comprehend  my  meaning;  now,  will  you  join  us?" 

"  I  guess  I'll  consider  a  spell  'fore  I  make  up  my  mind.  In 
the  first  place  I  want  tew  know  all  the  pertic'lers." 

"  If  you  will  promise,  solemnly,  to  keep  the  whole  matter  a 
secret." 

"  You  can  depend  on  me  ;  I'm  trew  as  steel !"  replied  Zab. 

Cumstock  being  satisfied  with  this  doubtful  promise,  pro 
ceeded  to  detail  the  plan  of  one  of  the  most  heartless,  cold 
blooded  conspiracies,  ever  conceived  in  the  brain  of  a  fiend , 
also,  the  names  of  those  enlisted  in  it ;  and  that  the  time  foi 


40  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  \    OR, 

striking  the  blow   was  fixed   at  four  bells   on  the  following 
morning. 

Zabdiel  listened  with  the  greatest  composure  to  the  diabolica* 
scheme.  Cumstock,  believing  that  he  was  sure  of  his  man, 
questioned  him  no  further.  Eight  bells  now  struck,  and  the 
morning  watch  was  relieved  from  duty.  They  all  went  below 
with  the  exception  of  Zabdiel ;  he  sat  for  some  time,  his  hands 
busily  employed  whittling  and  scraping  his  tiny  ivory  barque, 
while  his  thoughts  were  wholly  engrossed  upon  the  precious 
piece  of  villany  in  contemplation.  What  was  to  be  done  ? 
what  steps  would  prudence  dictate  to  him  to  take?  were  the 
first  queries  suggested  to  his  mind.  He  dared  not  seek  an 
interview  with  Captain  Harold,  for  well  he  knew  that  every 
movement  of  his  would  be  watched  by  some  of  the  wretches 
Cumstock  had  enlisted  in  the  enterprise.  While  thus  rumi 
nating,  Paul  Payson,  who  had  been  promoted  to  the  berth  of 
Doat-steerer,  came  upon  deck,  and  espying  his  old  friend, 
apparently  in  a  melancholy  mood  of  mind,  went  up  to  him, 
and  clapping  him  familiarly  on  the  shoulder,  exclaimed — 

"Halloa!  messmate!  you  look  as  dull  as  a  dead  whale* 
See,  the  skies  are  bright!  and,  thanks  be  to  that  last  gale  o 
wind,  we  are  once  more  in  a  comfortable  latitude  !" 

"And  in  afdead  calm  !"  added  Zab. 

"Ay  •  but  calms  don't  last  long  on   this  coast,"  said  Paul 
"but  by  four  bells  to-morrow  morning,  if  there's  any  virtue  in 
barometers,"  he  added,  lowering  his  voice  to  an  almost  inaudi 
ble  tone,  "  we  shall  have  a  storm  such  as  has  seldom  been  wit« 
nessed  on  the  coast  of  Japan  !" 

Zabdiel  was  startled  at  his  words,  and  he  looked  up  and  met 
the  significant  gaze  of  his  young  messmate.  That  look  required 
no  explanation — they  understood  each  other  as  well  as  if  their 
thoughts  had  been  uttered. 

"  Wai,"  said  Zabdiel,  relapsing  into  his  former  mood ;  "  if 
we're  to  have  another  gale  o'  wind,  we  might  as  well  prepare  to 
meet  it." 

"  Ay,  that's  the  word — prepare !"  said  our  hero,  and  he  turned 
upon  his  heel  and  went  aft. 

Up  to  this  time,  Captain  Harold  had  not  the  slightest  suspi- 
cipn  that  there  was  anything  unusual  going  on  aboard  of  the 
ship;  nor  had  tnere  been  exhibited  to  him  any  symptoms  of 
discontent  among  the  crew.  Considering  the  heterogeneous 
character  of  the  present  ship's  company,  it  was  frequently  a 
matter  of  wonder  between  him  and  the  first  officer,  that  the 
men  got  along  so  smoothly  together. 

On  the  morning  referred  to,  while  the  captain  and  first  mate 
were  seated  at  the  breakfast  table,  they  were  startled  by  a  rap- 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  iJ 

ping  beneath  the  trap-door  directly  under  their  feet.  It  sounded 
like  the  tapping  of  a  cane  ;  but  what  troubled  them  most  was, 
they  were  fully  aware  that  it  was  irnpossihle  for  any  human 
being  to  be  under  the  trap,  because  the  place  had  been  but  re 
cently  quite  stowed  fall  of  old  cordage,  sails,  etc. 

The  raps  continuing,  the  captain  said  to  Waldron,the  mate— 

"  I'll  fathom  this  mystery,  let  happen  what  may." 

The  table  was  lifted  from  over  the  trap,  and  the  captain, 
sliding  back  the  bolt  which  fastened  it  down,  he  lifted  it  up. 

Nothing  unusual  was  seen  excepting  the  small  end  of  a  bam 
boo  stick,  and  perceiving  that  it  moved,  they  readily  accounted 
for  the  rapping.  But  what  could  it  mean  ?  whose  hand  guided 
the  stick  ?  and  what  earthly  purpose  could  he  have  ?  But  Cap 
tain  Harold,  being  a  man  of  courage,  did  not  stop  to  deliberate. 
He  seized  the  bamboo  stick  and  drew  it  into  the  cabin.  It  was 
some  ten  feet  in  length,  and  around  the  large  end  a  slip  of  pa 
per  was  affixed,  wound  around  with  small  twine.  On  removing 
the  twine  he  found  it  to  be  a  note,  addressed  to  him,  which  ran 
as  follows :  - 

"To  Captain  Harold — There  are  fiends  in  human  shape 
aboard  your  ship!  Prepare  to  counteract  one  of  «the  foullest 
conspiracies  ever  hatched  !  Look  to  your  small  arms  in  the 
cabin — be  suspicious  of  your  second  officer — e£t  no  food  that 
is  served  up  from  the  galleys  to-day — whaling  implements,  such 
as  spears,  harpodns,  knives,  &c.,  should  be  stored  beneath  the 
after-hatches,  or  at  least  put  beyond  the  reach  of  the  men.  The 
mutineers  have  their  plans  well  laid — they  comprise  more  than 
half  of  the  ship's  crew — the  writer  of  this  has  joined  the  gang 
only  to  expose  them.  Be  vigilant,  cautious  and  courageous, 
and  the  fiends  may  yet  be  defeated.  Pardon  the  mode  I  have 
taken  to  convey  this  information — it  is  the  only  expedient  I 
could  devise  without  incurring  the  liability  of  detection.  The 
first  blow,  if  not  thwarted,  will  be  struck  at  four  bells  of  the 
morning  watch. 

(Signed)  ONE  WHO  is  IN  THE  SECRET. 

P.  5S.  The  informer  may  be  known  by  a  blue  lanyard  attached 
to  his  hat." 

"  There's  a  precious  bit  of  information.  Mr.  Waldron,"»said 
the  captain,  passing  the  missive  to  the  mate,  who  ran  his  eye 
over  the  pencilled  lines. 

"  By  Jupiter !"  exclaimed  Waldron  ;  "  this  looks  like  mutiny, 
indeed  !" 

"Can  it  be  possible  that  some  one  of  the  crew  is  endeavor 
ing  to  play  a  joke  upon  us  ?''  queried  Harold. 

"No;  it  is  no  joke,  captain,  depend  upon  it.     This  explains 


42  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN;     OR, 

to  me  why  the  second  mate  has  of  late  become  so  familiar 
among  the  nv?n  forward.     But,  what's  to  be  done  ?" 

"  First,  go  upon  deck,  and  see  if  you  can  discover  any  man 
with  a  blue  lanyard  in  his  hat,  and  immediately  report  to  me." 
<;  Ay,  ay,  sir,""  said  Waldron,  and  he  went  upon  deck. 
Without  appearing  to  scrutinize  the  men,  he  walked  forward, 
and  after  giving  some  slight  directions,  he  retraced  his  steps, 
without  discovering  the  sign  of  recognition. 

It  being  calm  weather,  and  but  little  to  do,  not  more  than 
half  of  the  forenoon  watch  on  deck  had  yet  appeared.  The 
mate,  after  waiting  a  reasonable  time,  went  again  forward,  and 
bending  over  the  forecastle  hatch,  sung  out — 

"  Come,  boys,  tumble  up  here  !  The  decks  must  be  washed 
down,  and  the  mizzen  rigging  needs  setting  up !" 

Nearly  all  the  men  obeyed  the  order  with  alacrity,  and  among 
the  foremost  to  appear  was  Paul  Payson  !     He  it  was  who  wore 
the  blue  lanyard  ;.  and  when  he  passed  the  mate,  their  eyes 
met ;  it  was  but  a  single  glance,  but  the  expression  on  the  part 
of  both  was  peculiarly  significant.     It  seemed  as  if  each  could 
read  the  thought  of  the  other.     After  giving  some  directions  in 
fegard  to  the  work  to  be  done,  Waldron  returned  to  the  cabin. 
"My  life  on  the  truth  of  that  mysterious  missive,"  said  he 
"  Have  you  discovered  the  signal  ?" 
"Aye,  sir." 
"  Who  wears  it  ?" 
"  The  youngest  man  in  the  ship." 
"  What,  young  Payson  ?" 
"  The  same." 

"  Then,  Mr.  Waldron,  we  may  as  well  act  upon  the  advice 
he  has  given.  In  the  first  place,  let  us  beware  of  whatever 
conies  upon  our  table  from  the  galley  ;  in  this  caution,  there  is 
an  unmistakable  intimation  that  the  food  for  us  to-day  is  to  be 
poisoned.  Secondly,  the  men  must  be  hard-worked  to-day — 
there's  plenty  to  be  done — see  that  no  one  is  idle." 

These  instructions  having  been  given,  the  mate  went  to  his 
state-room,  armed  himself  with  a  pair  of  revolvers,  and  went 
upon  deck ;  while  the  captain  proceeded  to  examine  his  arm- 
chest,  into  which  he  had  had  seldom  occasion  to  look  during 
the  cruise.  Great  was  his  amazement  to  behold  the  chest 
empty ! — guns,  pistols  and  sabres  having  all  been  removed. 
This  was  a  complete  corroboration  to  his  mind  of  the  truth  of 
the  startling  information  he  had  received.  That  Shaggy  Mart 
was  the  perpetrator  he  entertained  not  a  doubt,  for  who  but  he, 
except  his  first  officer  and  steward,  had  access  to  the  cabin. 
His  first  thought  would  have  impelled  him  to  seize  the  ? uspected 
one,  iron  him,  and  threaten  his  execution  at  the  yard  arm,  if  h* 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  13 

did  not  confess  all  and  sue  for  pardon  ;  but,  not  knowing  to  what 
extent  the  ship's  company  were  disaffected,  ne,  after  delibera 
tion,  resolved  to  proceed  with  due  caution. 

Fortunately,  in  a  private  desk,  he  had  a  fine  pair  of  revolv 
ers  and  a  bovvie  knife,  which  he  concealed  about  his  person ; 
then,  taking  his  quadrant  he  went  upon  deck,  seemingly  for  the 
purpose  of  making  an  observation.  The  sun  had  not  yet  reached 
the  meridian,  and  he  paced  the  dec'.:  to  and  fro  with  a  brow  as 
placid  as  the  waveless  ocean.  The  men  had  washed  and 
scrubbed  the  deck  ;  the  mizzen  rigging  had  been  set  up,  and 
every  rope  hauled  taut  and  neatly  belayed  ;  and  the  topmasts 
had  been  scraped  and  slushed.  The  spar  deck,  too,  had  been 
cleared  of  all  the  utensils  for  trying  out  oil,  and  stowed  between 
decks ;  all  the  spare  bits  ol  rope,  spars,  canvas,  &c.,  had  been 
tucked  away  in  the  spare  boats,  making  the  deck  look  more 
like  a  merchantman's  just  out  of  port,  than  a  whaler's  after  a 
successful  cruise,  except  that  the  harpoons,  lances,  knives, 
hatchets,  &c.,  were  yet  in  their  racks,  ready  for  service.  The 
two  iron  six-pounders,  which,  throughout  the  cruise,  had  stood 
at  the  port-holes  just  abaft  the  mainmast,  had  been  hauled  for 
ward  nearly  to  the  windlass,  and  were  now,  for  the  first  time, 
covered  with  canvas. 

Certainly,  the  morning  and  forenoon  watches  had  worked 
unusually  well  to  have  accomplished  so  much ;  and  Captain 
Harold  made  many  pleasant  remarks  to  the  men  for  their  pride 
and  zeal  in  making  the  old  Philip  look  so  trim  and  tidy. 

Said  he  to  one  of  the  petty  officers  standing  near — 

"Mr.  Holmes,  where  have  you  stowed  the  guns?" 

"  Forward,  sir,"  was  the  reply. 

"  By  whose  order  ?" 

"  Mr.  Cumstock's,  sir,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  he  thought  they 
would  be  less  in  the  way." 

"  Indeed !  he  has  singular  ideas  of  propriety,  now-a-days," 
remarked  Captain  Harold.  "  Mr.  Holmes,  see  to  their  being 
'  toted'  back  to  their  proper  places.  If,  perchance,  we  sjiould 
be  compelled  to  seek  a  Japanese  harbor,  we  might  find  use  for 
them." 

"  To-day,  sir  ?"  queried  Holmes,  suggestively  ;  "  the  men 
have  worked  like  so  many  hor " 

"  Now,  sir — immediately  !"  interrupted  the  captain. 

"  Very  well,  sir,"  acquiesced  Holmes,  gruffly,  and  he  went 
forward  to  see  to  the  execution  of  the  order. 

Three  or  four  men  took  hold  of  each  of  the  gun  carriages, 
without  removing  the  cumbersome  covering.  The  captain 
observing  they  were  making  an  awkward  job  of  it,  sung  out-  — 


44  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  ;    OR. 

"  Of!  with  that  canvas,  you. lubbers !  and  drag  'em  along  here 
man  fashion." 

With  apparent  reluctance  they  removed  the  covering ;  and 
then,  wasting  as  much  time  as  they  dared  to,  under  the  captainV 
eye,  in  hitching  on  drag-ropes,  they  slowly  propelled  the  heavy 
carriages  over  the  deck  to  the  port  holes. 

"By  Jupiter,  Mars  and  Vulcan  !"  exclaimed  the  captain,  ob 
serving  that  the  guns  had  been  put  in  admirable  condition  for 
use,  and  that  the  rammers,  swabs  and  match-stocks  were  all  in 
their  places;  "by  all  the  gods  of  war!  the  old,  rusty  dogs  look 
well — I  should  not  have  recognized  them  elsewhere.  I  am 
pleased  to  notice  this  very  recent  disposition  on  the  part  of  the 
crew  to  make  the  old  King  Philip  worthy  of  her  name.  When 
we  get  well  off  this  ugly  coast,  you  shall  have  extra  allowances 
of  grog.  Now,  boys,  as  we  have  done  blubber-hunting  for  this 
cruise,  I  want  you  to  stow  away  below,  all  the  sharp  instru 
ments,  so  they  11  not  be  liable  to  rust;  see,  too,  they  are  well 
cleaned  and  oiled." 

Some  of  ihe  men  glanced  into  each  other's  countenances 
with  a  troubled  look,  but  they  dared  not  disobey,  for  their  leader 
was  yet  below,  and  of  those  on  deck  the  mutineers  were  proba 
bly  the  weakest  party. 

The  captain  scrutinized  every  movement  closely,  and  inter 
preted  truly  every  glance.  By  the  expression  of  their  counte 
nances  alone,  he  felt  as  if  he  could  select  every  man  who  was 
engaged  in  a  hellish  conspiracy  against  him. 

A  better  or  severer  test  than  the  removal  of  those  formidable 
weapons  could  scarcely  have  been  devised,  for  upon  those 
Shaggy  Mart  and  his  followers  had  depended  in  the  hour  of 
strife. 

"  Take  up  the  hatches,  Mr.  Holmes,"  said  Harold,  perceiving 
that  the  crew  lagged  in  the  execution  of  this  order  ;  "  let's  have 
\he  steel  implements  below  at  once." 

"  Ay,  sir,"  responded  Holmes,  gruffly. 

At  this  moment,  eight  bells  struck,  and  Shaggy  Mart — who 
had  his  hammock  swung,  by  preference,  in  the  carpenter's  room 
appeared  on  deck,  soon  followed  from  the  forecastle  by  most  o 
the  men  of  his  watch. 

"Mr.  Cumstock,"  said  Captain  Harold,  "  I  have  just  ordered 
that  all  the  whaling  weapons  be  stowed  below — see  that  your 
watch  perform  the  duty." 

The  mate  started  as  if  stung  by  an  adder,  but  immediately 
reassuring  himself,  he  said,  by  way  of  suggestion — 

"  We  may,  possibly,  find  use  for  them." 
No — no  more  look  out  for  blubber/'  returned  the  captain 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  45 

"  If  they  be  properly  stowed  beneath  the  hatches,  the  steel  will 
not  get  rusty." 

Tnis  plausible  reason  somewhat  relieved  Shaggy  Mart  from 
the  embarrassment  into  which  he  was  at  first  thrown,  and  he 
went  forward  to  do  that  which  he  was  directed  to  do,  though 
not  in  the  precise  manner  he  thought  that  the  captain  meant  ir. 
should  be  done. 

"  Up  with  the  fore-hatches !"  said  he  to  the  men  standing  by 
"  The  old  man  has  got  one  of  his  odd  fits  aboard  to-day." 

The  fore-hatches  were  removed,  and  the  men  began  taking 
the  harpoons,  lances,  and  other  sharp  implements  from  theii 
racks. 

"  Under  the  after-hatches !"  suggested  a  low  voice  in  the  cap 
tain's  ear,  from  one  who  passed  him  hastily.  He  turned  and 
saw  Paul  Payson,  who  had  just  come  from  aioft,  where  he  had 
been,  with  others,  employed  in  bending  a  new  mizzen  topsail — 
the  old  one  having  recently  been  torn  from  the  yard  in  a  gale 
of  wind.  The  youth  ventured  not  to  meet  the  captain's  eye 
but  hastened  forward  to  go  below. 

The  captain  paused  thoughtfully  for  a  few  moments,  and  then 
cried  out — 

"  Mr.  Cumstock  !  you  will  stow  the  implements  beneath  the 
after-hatches !" 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  growled  Shaggy  Mar4 ;  and  then  added  in  low 
tones — "  What  in  h —  is  the  matter  with  the  old  man  to-day  ? 
he  has  got  some  damn  strange  kinks  in  his  noddle  !" 

Most  of  the  men  went  about  the  job  as  if  they  deemed  it  a 
disagreeable  duty;  and  that  which  ordinarily  would  have  been 
accomplished  in  twenty  minutes,  they  consumed  a  whole  hour 
in  performing.  The  captain,  meanwhile,  paced  the  quarter 
deck,  watching  the  movements  of  the  second-mate  and  the  men 
under  him.  At  length  every  sharp  instrument  was  carefully 
stowed — the  hatches  replac'ed — the  bar  placed  across,  and  the 
padlock  put  on.  Cumstock  stooped  down,  pretending  to  lock 
it,  but  he  was  cautious  not  to  turn  the  bolt,  and  drawing  the 
key  therefrom,  he  passed  it  to  the  captain. 

"  Now,  Mr.  Cumstock,  you  and  your  men  may  turn  to  and 
set  up  the  fore  rigging,"  said  the  captain  pleasantly.  "  Tnra 
warm,, weather  has  slackened  the  shrouds  considerably." 

Captain  Harold  was  not  deceived  in  regard  to  the  locking  of 
the  hatchway,  for  no  sooner  had  the  men  gone  about  their  new 
July,  than  Harold  slipped  the  key  into  the  lock,  U'~ned  the  bolt, 
and  then  returned  the  key  to  his  pocket,  all  of  vr»iich  was  done 
without  being  observed. 

"  Dinna  ready,  capen,"  said  Mungo,  the  black  steward,  hi 
woolly  head  protruding  above  the  companion-way  slide. 


46  YANKEES      N    JAPAN  J     OR, 

The  first  mate,  who  had  been  directing  the  work  akft,  \raf 
calbd,  and  he  and  the  captain  went  below  to  dine. 

"Well,  steward,  what  sort  o'  grub  has  the  cook  served  yp 
to-day  ?"  asked  Captain  Harold. 

"  Soup  an'  salt-horse,  massa,"  replied  Ebony 

The  captain  raised  the  cover  of  the  tureen,  and  took  a  snuif 
of  the  savory  esculent. 

"Phew!  the  soup  doesn't  smell  right,"  said  the  captain 
"  Taste  it,  Mr.  Waldron." 

"A  smell  is  quite  sufficient  for  me,"  said  the  mate. 

"Mungo!  send  that  Siamese  son  of  a  sea-cook  into  the  cabin," 
ordered  Harold. 

Mungo  run  up  to  the  galley,  and  in  a  few  moments,  Chou 
Touan,  a  full-blooded  native  of  Bangkok,  Siam,  made  his  ap 
pearance  in  the  cabin. 

"  Well,  Chou,  what  did  you  season  the  soup  with  ?"  asked  the 
captain. 

"  Me  pepper,  me  salt,  me — me — " 

"No  stammering;  but,  tell  me  what  you  have  put  into  thit 
soup  that  you  do  not  usually  put  in  ?" 

"  Me  put  no  noding,"  replied  cookee,  trembling. 

"  Did  you  taste  it  ?"" 

"  Me  no  remember." 

"  You  smelt  of  it  ?" 

"  Ee,  masse." 

"  Did  it  smell  good  ?" 

"  Ee,  masse,  me  smell  um  good." 

"  And  you  believe  it  to  be  good  ?" 

"  Oh,  ee,  me  believe  um  good." 

"  Well,  Chou,  seat  yourself  on  that  locker,  and  don't  you  stii 
till  I  give  you  leave,"  said  the  captain. 

The  cook  obeyed  reluctantly,  for  he  began  to  have  a  slight 
apprehension  that  the  captain  might  suspect  him  of  certain  sins 
of  commission  for  which  he  deserved  punishment. 

"  You  have  not  yet  had  your  grub,  eh  ?"  inquired  Harold. 

"  Me  no  eatee  till  captain  he  eatee." 

"But,  Chou,"  pursued  Harold,  filling  a  bowl  with  the  soup, 
"  at  my  particular  request,  you  can  have  no  objections  in  dining 
first  to-day  ?" 

"  Ah,  me  no  hungree — me  sickee — me  no  eatee  noding,"  said 
Chou,  exhibiting  by  various  expressions  and  gestures  that  he 
loathed  the  idea  of  partaking  of  any  food  just  at  that  particu- 
foi  time. 

"  You  must  take  it,"  said  the  captain,  producing  his  revolver ; 
"  or,  may  I  be  harpooned  if  I  don't  make  you  swallow  the  con- 
tents  of  this  pistol '" 


THE    EOMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  4"J 

'*  Oh,  mercy,  mass*?  cap'en !"  cried  the  guilty  cook,  groaning 
'n  agony. 

"On  one  condition  only,"  said  Harold,  "will  I  let  you  off-, 
aiVu  mat  is  to  answei  -»uly  to  such  questions  as  I  may  put  to 
yo%." 

'  i£ee,  ee,  masse,  me  tell  all  true — me  sorree — me  ask  forgib- 
nee — me  neber  do  so  more  !" 

"  Then  tell  me,  what  have  you  put  into  that  dish,  which  ought 
not  to  have  been  there  ?"  asked  the  captain. 

"  Powdee,  masse — leetel  vite  powdee — masse  Cumstock  gib 
poor  ^hou !" 

"  White  powder — arsenic,  I  have  no  doubt,"  said  the  captain. 
"So  I  suppose,  through  this  white  powder  we  were  to  be  made 
food  for  sharks  ?" 

"Ee,  massee — so  masse  Cumstock  telle  poor  Chou." 

"Anc»  supposing  the  poison  failed,  what  then  ?" 

"All  no  sidee  wid  Masse  Cumstock,  he  killee  wid  big  gun, 
de  harpoon,  de  spear,  de  knives,  an  trowee  overboard." 

"  A  precious  piece  of  villany,  truly,"  observed  Harold.  "And 
how,  Chou,  dared  you  to  enlist  in  these  diabolical  atrocities  ?" 

"  Me  no  dare  say  no — he  swearee  cut  my  troat,  I  no  join 
um.  Me  oery  sorree — me  now  fight  for  capen — me  do  jest 
what  massa  Harole  say." 

"  Tell  me,  Chou,  what  have  become  of  the  weapons  of  my 
arm-chest  ?" 

"I  hearee  say  Cumstock  tole  um  ;  Chou  no  know  whar  dey 
are,  ony  de  secon'  rnatee  gib  poor  Chou  dis  ;"  and  the  Siamese 
drew  a  pistol  from  beneath  his  jacket,  and  gave  it  up  to  the 
captain.  "  De  pistol  loadee,  massa,"  continued  Chou,  by  way 
of  a  caution;  "two  big  ball — he  go  bang! — killee  captain— 
Chou  be  berry  sorree." 

The  captain  recognized  the  weapon  as  one  belonging  to  the 
arm-chest,  and,  on  examination,  he  found  it  contained  two  bul 
lets  and  an  ample  charge  of  powder.  After  the  meek  confes 
sion  of  the  frightened  cook,  he  deemed  it  most  judicious  to  let 
him  go  about  his  business,  as  his  detention  might  so  alarm  the 
mutineers  that  they  would  rise  before  the  captain  could  arrange 
his  plan  of  defence. 

Under  this  state  of  things,  Chou  Taoun'was  made  to  take  a 
solemn  obligation,  according  to  the  rule  instituted  by  the  Tala- 
poins,  or  Priests  ot  Siarn,  which  to  a  Siamese,  is  as  binding  as 
the  terrible  oath  of  the  Illuminati,  that  he  would  not  bear  arms 
against  the  captain,  but  would  fight  till  the  last  against  the 
mutineers. 

Chou  then  returned  to  the  galley,  leaving  the  captain  and 
mate  to  dine  upon  some  private  stores,  instead  of  rice  soup. 


48  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  J    OK, 

Such  was  the  position  of  things  on  board  the  King  Philip,  at 
four  bells,  p.  M.,  on  that  eventful  day.  We  have  before  said 
that  the  ship  was  becalmed,  but  those  who  have  navigated  that 
dangerous  coast,  know  that  rude  Boreas  does  not  long  suspend 
his  breath  ;  for  of  a  sudden  a  dark  line  became  visible  \W  an 
easterly  direction,  as  a  signal  that  the  old  wind-god  was  again 
to  visit  the  whaler  in  his  wrath.  Topsails  and  top-gallant  sails 
were  hanging  idly  from  the  yards  ;  but  no  sooner  was  the  indi 
cation  of  a  blow  discerned,  than  men  were  sent  aloft  to  furl 
top-gallant  sails,  but  ere  they  could  be  taken  in  the  squall  struck 
the  ship  with  such  violence  that  the  main  to'  gallant  yard,  with 
four  men  upon  the  foot-ropes,  was  carried  away.  One  of  the 
men,  in  falling,  was  caught  in  the  weather  rigging,  and  was 
saved,  the  other  three  perished.  The  fore  top-gallant  yard  was 
now  abandoned,  the  sail  being  partially  clewed  up-was  torn  to 
shreds,  and  soon  the  yard  and  all  was  flying  through  the  air. 
The  mizzen  top-gallant  yard,  by  great  exertion,  was  cast  loose 
and  sent  down. 

When  the  squall  first  struck  the  ship  she  careened  almost  to 
her  beam-ends.  The  captain  and  mate  rushed  upon  deck,  in 
alarm.  The  ship  was  now  driving,  with  the  wind  on  her  quar 
ter,  directly  towards  the  chief  headland  of  the  Bay  of  Omura. 
The  captain  seized  the  helm;  and  now  that  she  was  relieved  of 
her  top-gallant  sails,  brought  her  up  into  the  wind,  and  under 
main  and  fore-topsail,  and  fore-topmast  staysail,  she  flew  over 
the  foam-crested  billows  like  a  mad  courser.  The  sky  was  now 
veiled  with  fearful  black  clouds,  the  thunder  rolled  in  the  dis 
tance,  and  more  frightful  still,  the  roar  of  breakers  from  that 
rugged,  rocky  coast,  startled  the  ears,  even  of  that  crew  so 
inured  to  storms  and  perils.  Anon,  a  brilliant,  dazzling,  linger 
ing  line  of  light,  like  a  mighty  stream  of  molten  gold,  darted 
from  out  of  the  dense  masses  of  vapor,  and  shot  athwart  the 
dark  abyss,  directly  above  that  struggling  bark.  The  scene  for 
a  moment  was  too  bright  for  mortal  eyes  ;  a  moment  of  dark 
ness  and  suspense  succeeded,  and  then  there  came  one  mighty 
crash  of  stunning  thunder  from  Jove's  artillery,  so  loud  that  all 
the  inventive  powers  of  earth  combined  would  fail  to  produce 
•mch  another  sound.  '  The  mariners  quailed  and  trembled,  and 
gazed  upon  each  other  in  dread  alarm,  lest  the  next  bolt  should 
strike  the  ship,  and  send  their  unshaven  souls  into  eternity ! 

But  that  ship's  crew  were  doomed  to  greater  terrors !  The 
captain  possessed  no  chart  of  the  coast,  and  he  knew  not 
whether  his  vessel  was  rushing  to  destruction  or  to  a  haven  of 
uafety.  She  was  now  within  two  leagues  of  the  land,  and  with 
the  glass  the  natives  were  seen  assembling  on  the  shore,  await 
ing  the  catastrophe  which  they  felt  certain  must  befal  the  strange 


TOE  PEINCJ5S3  TITCZING  INTBBOKDING   FOB  PAUL. 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  51 

barque.  It  was  impossible  to  gain  an  offing,  for  the  current  set 
in  strongly  towards  the  shore.  The  clouds  now  began  to  break 
away,  and  the  wind  raged  less  fiercely,  but  the  fearful  cry  of 
"  breakers  ahead  !"  seemed  to  crush  the  last  faint  hope  of  the 
most  hopeful.  Huge  black  rocks,  over  which  the  waters  were 
lashed  into  foam,  seemed  to  rise  up  almost  before  them.  A  few 
moments  of  awful  suspense,  during  which  the  ship's-  keel  had 
more  than  once  grazed  the  jagged  rocks,  she  weathered  the 
immediate  danger,  and  was  again  in  clear  water. 

Captain  Harold  breathed  more  freely,  and  hoped  again,  when 
a  mighty  rushing  of  water,  as  if  a  cataract  was  near,  again 
startled  the  ears  of  the  crew. 

"A  whirlpool!  a  whirlpool!  ease  her  off!  up  with  your 
helm  !"  were  the  despairing  cries  of  the  first  officer,  who  stood 
in  the  main  weather  rigging,  glinging  to  the  shrouds,  and  watch- 
mg  for  new  dangers. 

But  the  cry  came  too  late ;  the  King  Philip  plunged  madly, 
wildly  on,  and  was  caught  in  the  terrible  vortex.  No  longer 
obeying  the  will  of  the  helmsman,  the  ship,  in  defiance  of  the 
wind  and  the  impetus  she  had  gained,  began  to  whirl  around  in 
that  destructive  maelstrom  with  such  violence  that  every  sail 
was  torn  from  the  yards,  and  the  mainmast  and  foremast  were 
twisted  off  nearly  to  the  deck,  as  if  they  had  been  a  pair  of 
reeds.  The  men,  despairingly,  threw  themselves  down  upon 
their  faces,  expecting  each  moment  to  be  swallowed  up  in  that 
hell  of  waters.  In  the  midst  of  the  impending  danger,  there 
was  one  who  never  despaired ;  and  he  toiled  on,  as  if  something 
more  could  .be  done.  Did  he  believe  in  miracles,  or  why  did 
he  set  the  spanker,  as  if  that  could  avail  anything  ?  but  no 
sooner  was-  the  shivering  sail  sheeted  home,  than  a  squall  struck 
it — the  circling  motion  was  suddenly  checked — and  like  a  fright 
ened,  fiery  steed,  the  ship  leaped  from  out  the  vortex,  and 
plunged  beyond  the  immediate  destruction  which  had  threat 
ened  her. 

*'  We're  saved !  we're  saved  !"  cried  Paul  Payson,  seizing 
the  helm  ;  for  he  it  was,  who,  by  a  wonderful  presence  of  m;ad, 
had  saved  ship,  crew  and  all  from  being  swallowed  up! 


52  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  ;    OR, 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  Progress  of  the  Mutiny — A  Peep  into  Japan. 

THE  storm  was  over ;  the  wind-god  had  spent  its  fury ;  the 
old  King  Philip  had  rode  out  the  tempest,  and  miraculously 
escaped  being  dashed  to  pieces  upon  rocky  reefs,  and  from  being 
swallowed  up  in  that  greatest  of  all  terrors  to  mariners,  the 
maelstrom.  Now  she  floated  upon  the  waters  a  mere  hulk — 
masts,  spars,  rigging  and  sails  were  gone — all,  except  the  stump 
of  the  mainmast,  and  the  shreds  of  canvas  and  bits  of  rigging 
which  still  clung  to  it.  Floating  around  the  dismasted  ship, 
were  tangled  masses  of  shrouds,  stays,  braces,  halliards,  splin 
tered  spars,  tattered  sails,  &c.'in  wretched  confusion;  while 
upon  deck,  barrels,  crushed  boats,  fragments  of  the  cook's 
galley,  and  portions  of  the  top-hamper,  completed  the  dis 
ordered  spectacle.  Night  came,  and  the  wind  blew  only  in 
soft  zephyrs ;  the  waves  no  longer  were  lashed  into  foam, 
but  rolled  in  long,  gentle  swells ;  the  stars  were  serenely 
bright,  and  the  waxing  moon  poured  a  flood  of  silver  light 
over  the  snow-capped  mountains  of  Kiooisoo. 

At  six  bells,  evening  watch,  there  were  but  few  men  upon 
the  whaler's  deck;  for  the  crew  had  worked  hard,  and  the 
mate  gave  orders  for  all  to  turn-in,  except  a  sufficient  num 
ber  to  keep  a  look-out,  as  there  was  reason  for  apprehen 
sion  that  they  might  have  a  visit  from  a  few  boat  loads  of 
Japanese  fishermen,  whose  religion  or  morality  scarcely  made 
it  a  crime  to  plunder  Christian  ships ;  but  it  so  happened 
that  among  the  whaler's  crew  there  were  men  more  to  be 
feared  than  those  who  worshipped  idols  in  exclusive  Japan. 
This  fact,  fortunately,  was  well  known  to  Captain  Harold, 
otherwise  he  and  the  innocent  men  of  his  crew  might  be  mas- 
sacred  in  cold  blood ;  but  now,  having  been  forewarned,  pre 
parations  might  be  made  at  least  to  sell  their  lives  dearly. 
Besides  the  captain  and  first  mate,  there  were  two  islanders 
and  two  Yankees  who  kept  the  first  night-watch ;  one  of  the 
latter  being  our  heroic  sailor-boy,  Paul  Payson.  It  wanted 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  53 

nome  twenty  minutes  to  eight  bells,  as  the  captain  was  leaning 
against  the  tafferel,  that  he  saw  something,  which  he  took  to  be 
a  fish,  gliding  smoothly  along  the  water,  about  four  yards  from 
the  starboard  side  of  the  ship.  The  object  somewhat  attracted 
his  attention,  and  under  ordinary  circumstances  he  "would  have 
discharged  his  pistol  at  it;  as  it  was,  he  drew  one  from  his 
pocket,  when  he  saw  that,  on  nearing  the  stern,  it  rounded  to, 
where  ne  lost  sight  of  it ;  but  in  a  moment  or  two,  however,  the 
half-shaven  crown  of  Chou  Taoun,  the  Siamese  cook,  suddenly 
appeared  above  the  starboard  davit,  followed  by  his  sleek,  oily 
body,  which  was  nearly  nude.  Noiselessly,  without  being  seen 
or  heard  except  by  the  captain,  he  leaped  upon  the  quarter 
deck,  fell  upon  his  knees,  and  placing  his  fingers  upon  his  lips 
in  token  of  silence,  and  beckoning  to  the  captain  to  follow  him, 
he  glided  as  stealthily  as  a  serpent  towards  the  companion- way, 
down  which  he  disappeared,  followed  by  his  astonished  master. 

"  What  means  this  midnight  adventure,  Chou  ?"  asked 
Harold,  still  grasping  his  pistol,  for  he  still  somewhat  doubted 
the  fidelity  of  his  cook. 

"  Me  telle  you,  masse,  soon  poor  Chou  ketchee  he  breath," 
answered  the  Siamese  in  a  whisper. 

"  Why  didn't  you  come  aft  in  the  usual  manner  ?" 

"  Me  beree  fraid — devil-men  watchee  me ;  me  swimee  like 
fishee — me  slidee  in  de  water,  nobody  see — me  swimme,  no 
body  hear — me  in  cabin,  nobody  know.  Now  me  tellee  you, 
masse.  Nung,  sang,  sam,  see,  ha  (one,  two,  three,  four,  five) 
men,"  continued  Chou,  counting  his  fingers,  "  keepe  watch. 
Nung  Kanacka,  nung  Corean,  sang  'Merican,  and  Masse 
Waldron.  Beree  goodee.  Nung  Kanacka,  nung  Corean,  devil- 
men  ;  sang  'Merican,  good  men  ;  Massa  Waldron,  he  good  too." 

"  Well,  Chou,  that's  all  very  well ;  but  come  to  the  point  at 
once,"  said  Harold,  impatiently. 

"Eee,  masse,  me  telle,"  said  the  Siamese,  producing  from  his 
girdle,  a  naked  blade,  of  shining  steel,  and  keen  as  a  Damascus 
razor ;  "  me  killee  sang  devil-man  on  deck — no  killee  sam 
(three)  goodee  men ;  den  masse  we  shutee  up  and  lockee  up 
de  fo'castle— den  devil-men  no  get  out." 

"  But  there  are  some  good  men  in  the  forecastle,  I  trust," 
said  Harold  suggestively  ;  "  and  it  would  be  bad  policy  to  shut 
them  up  among  the  bad  ones." 

"  Ee,  masse,  Chou  know  dat,"  replied  the  Siamese ;  "  Chou 
.ellee  all  goodee  men  to  come  on  deck — dey  say  ee.  I  say, 
tellee  nobody — dey  say  no." 

"  But  are  you  certain,  Chou,  that  these  bad  men  will  not 
abandon  their  wicked  intentions,  now  that  the  ship  is  in  such  a 
disabled  state  ?" 


54  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  \    OR, 

"  Me  hearee  secon'-matee  say  he  no  caree  dam — he  tellee 
devil-men,  so — devil-men  say  no  caree  dam  too,"  replied  Chou, 
with  great  earnestness.  "  Now,  masse,  say  to  Chou,  savee 
ship,  savee  lives  good  men,  Chou  do  it,  or  masse  killee  poor 
Chou." 

There  was  so  much  honest  zeal  expressed  in  the  manner 
and  features  of  this  semi-civilized  native  of  Bangkok,  that  the 
captain  acquiesced  in  his  scheme,  but  gave  him  to  understand 
that  his  movements  would  be  closely  watched,  and  on  the  first 
indication  of  treachery,  his  brains  would  be  blown  out.  Chou 
promised  to  do  everything  in  his  power  for  the  good  of  his 
master,  and  for  the  safety  of  the  vessel,  and  would  willingly 
sacrifice  his  life  to  prove  his  fidelity. 

Mr.  Waldron,  the  first  officer,  was  now  summoned  to  the 
cabin,  and  made  acquainted  with  Touan's  scheme  for  turning 
the  tables  on  the  mutinous  wretches.  The  mate  coincided 
with  the  captain,  for  as  yet  they  had  been  undecided  in  what 
manner  they  could  best  defend  themselves  if  attacked,  trusting 
rather  to  circumstances,  and  the  aid  of  a  portion  of  the  crew, 
rather  than  to  any  matured  plan. 

The  Siamese  went  upon  deck,  followed  by  the  master  and 
mate.  How  he  was  to  accomplish  his  scheme  without  detec 
tion,  seemed  a  mystery  to  the  officers,  but  Chou  was  cunning 
as  well  as  desperate.  The  two  devil-men,  as  Chou  very  pro 
perly  designated  them,  were  both  forward  ;  to  one  of  whom  he 
had  loaned  his  opium  smoking-pipe,  two  or  three  whiffs  of  the 
delicious  narcotic  being  quite  sufficient  to  put  him  into  a  state 
of  dreamy'unconsciousness,  and  he  now  lay  upon  the  deck,  with 
a  coil  of  chain-cable  for  a  pillow.  The  other,  the  Corean,  was 
not  addicted  to  the  stupefying  habit,  and  he  stood  by  the  star 
board  cat  head,  looking,  towards  the  shore,  which  was  not  more 
than  four  miles  distant,  as  if  watching  the  movements  of  some 
half  dozen  fishing  junks  that  had  rounded  the  headland  of  the 
bay.  •  The  two  Americans  were  amidships,  keeping  a  look-out 
in  the  same  direction. 

Chou,  like  a  slimy  serpent,  crawled  beneath  the  mass  of  torn 
sails,  rigging,  etc.,  on  the  starboard  side  of  the  deck;  occa 
sionally,  when  his  body  was  visible,  lifting  his  head  to  watch 
any  movement  of  his  intended  victims. 

In  this  manner  he  dragged  himself  from  the  cabin  companion 
way  to  the  windlass,  when  he  raised  himself  up,  and  making  a 
cat-like  spring  towards  his  victim,  he  buried  the  glittering  steel 
deep  into  his  bosom  ! — There  was  a  stifled  shriek,  and  the 
Corean  fell  backward  into  the  arms  of  his  assassin,  a  corpse ! 
Then  he  was  lifted  across  the  bulwarks — a  splash  succeeded — 
and  all  was  still  again  !  Chou  now  stood  over  the  unconscious 


THE    BOMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  65 

Kanacka ;  he  raised  the  yet  blood-reeking  blade  to  strike ;  but 
his  hand  was  arrested  by  some  one  from  behind.  He  turned, 
and  Paul  stood  beside  him. 

"  Strike  not,  Chou !"  cautioned  the  sailor  boy  in  a  whisper  ; 
"he  is  harmless — no  more  blood  than  is  necessary  must  be 
spilt !" 

"  Ee,  ee,"  returned  the  cook  ;  "  me  un'stan." 

Chou  and  Paul  now  stood  near  the  forecastle.  Eight  bells 
were  struck,  and  some  six  or  eight  seamen,  belonging  to  both 
watches,  with  unusual  haste,  rushed  upon  deck.  While  two 
more  were  making  less  haste,  Chou  and  Paul  suddenly  closed 
up  the  forecastle,  completely  imprisoning  every  man  that  was 
below. 

Then  a  scene  of  confusion  ensued  which  baffles  all  descrip 
tion.  But  let  us  return  for  a  moment  to  Shaggy  Mart,  who,  as 
we  have  before  said,  from  choice  had  his  quarters  with  the  car 
penter,  in  a  small  room,  just  abaft  the  forecastle,  separated  from 
it  by  a  partition  with  a  slide  door.  When  eight  bells  struck, 
Shaggy  Mart  and  Murray,  the  carpenter%  turned  out,  and  pre 
pared  themselves  to  go  on  deck.  Hearing  the  men  hurrying 
above,  he  observed — 

"  Ah !  the  boys  seem  eager  to  commence  the  work.  Hell 
will  be  to  pay  presently,  that's  certain." 

"Since  the  ship  was  dismasted,  I  must  confess  I've  had  no 
heart  in  this  business,"  remarked  the  carpenter. 

"  Ah  !  but  we'll  soon  put  a  heart  into  you — and  pluck,  too— 
and  money  in  your  chest,  my  hearty,"  replied  Cumstock,  by 
way  of  encouragement.  "  Ha!  what's  the  meaning  of  that  ?" 
he  ejaculated,  as  he  heard  loud  oaths  from  the  forecastle ; 
"  they  cannot  have  dared  to  strike  the  blow  without  waiting 
my  orders  !"  and  he  ran  and  shoved  aside  the  sliding  door. 

Here  a  scene  presented  itself  which  he  little  anticipated. 
Some  half  dozen  of  his  sworn  confederates,  were  crowding 
up  the  forecastle  ladder  vainly  endeavoring  to  make  their 
egress,  while  the  others,  with  weapons  in  their  hands,  stood 
staring  at  each  other  in  amazement. 

Shaggy  Mart  comprehended  their  situation  at  a  glance. 

"  What  hell-hound  has  done  this  ?"  he  demanded  in  a  fren 
zied  tone.  "  Who  of  our  men  are  not  here  ?" 

"  The  cook !  the  cook  !"  answered  a  half  dozen  voices. 

"  Hell  and  furies !  that  d — d  Siamese,  then,  is  the  traitor. 
Oh  !  I  have  had  my  suspicions  of  him  since —  :  but  no  matter. 
The  villain  shall  pay  dearly  for  this — I'll  torture  him!  I'M 
ikic  him  alive !" 

''  What's  to  be  done  ?"  cried  an  almost  despairing  voice. 


56  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  \    OR, 

"  Hew  our  way  out !  we've  weapons  !"  was  Shaggy  Mart'f 
reply.  "  Courage,  shipmates !  this  way  !" 

Pell-mell,  they  all  rushed  into  the  carpenter's  room. 

''  Down  with  the  bulk-heads  !"  shoutea  their  desperate  leader 
"  Once  through,  all  hell  can't  stop  us  from  breaking  through 
the  grated  hatches."- 

Saying  this,  he  seized  the  carpenter's  broad-axe,  and  with 
his  athletic  arm,  commenced  cutting  away  at  the  thick-planks, 
which  fgrmed  the  bulkheads,  between  the  carpenter's  room  and 
the  lower  deck.  Others,  with  such  weapons  as  they  could  use, 
assisted  in  the  work  of  demolition  with  so  much  spirit,  that 
they  soon  accomplished  their  object. 

But  let  us  return  to  the  spar-deck.  The  whole  force  who 
were  resolved  to  sacrifice  their  lives  if  necessary,  in  defence  of 
the  ship,  numbered,  including  captain  and  mate,  some  twelve 
or  fourteen  men,  while  the  mutineers  exceeded  their  numbers 
by  at  least  double.  The  latter  were  in  possession  of  nearly  all 
the  fire-arms,  and  had  also  gained  possession  of  axes,  cleavers, 
and  other  implements,  which  were  kept  in  the  'carpenter's 
loom. 

The  moment  it  was  ascertained  that  the  mutineers  had  hewed 
their  way  through  the  bulk-heads,  every  effort  was  made  on 
deck  to  secure  the  grated  hatchway,  through  which  it  was  evi 
dent  they  intended  to  make  an  egress.  This  was  a  difficult 
opeiation,  and  could  only  be  done  by  standing  at  a  distance 
and  throwing  upon  it  such  heavy  articles  as  was  within  their 
reai'n,  for  the  mutineers  who  had  muskets  stood  in  a  square 
below,  firing  volleys  at  intervals,  while  the  others  were  at  work 
with  axes,  striving  to  make  a  breach  through  the  grate  which 
separated  them  from  the  defenders  of  the  ship. 

At  length  a  heavy  broken  spar  was  cleared  from  a  mass  of 
rubbish,  "and  dragged  directly  across  the  hatchway,  through  the 
centre  of  which  a  small  breach  had  already  been  made.  In 
doing  this,  two  American  seamen  were  wounded,  though  not 
mortally,  by  the  musket  shots  fired  from  below. 

A  portion  of  a  tattered  sail,  through  the  daring  of  our  old 
friend,  Zabdiel  Stubbs,  was  now  drawn  over  the  spar,  which 
effectually  prevented  the  assailants  from  aiming  their  guns  with 
anything  like  precision.  This  enabled  the  party  on  deck  to 
encumber  the  hatch  with  such  a  weight  of  rubbish,  that  egress 
that  way  seemed  impossible. 

Hostilities  now  ceased  for  a  time.  The  parties  were  so  se 
parated  from  each  other,  that  little  or  no  execution  could  be 
done  on  either  side.  True,  the  defenders  of  the  ship  might 
coir.mence  another  attack  by  venturing  below,  but  this  they 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  57 

deemed  not  the  prudent  course.     They  waited   only  for  an 
attack. 

While  all  was  comparatively  quiet,  the  voice  of  Shaggy 
Mart  was  heard  from  below: 

"  Captain  Harold  !" 

"  Well,  villain?"  was  the  ^esponse. 

"  Spare  our  lives,  and  we'll  lay  down  our  arms  and  return  to 
duty." 

"  What  surety  can  we  have  of  your  good  behavior  ?"  que 
ried  the  captain. 

"Our  oaths !" 

"Murderers  oaths!"  returned  the  captain.  "Hell-hounds! 
I'd  sooner  set  the  ship  on  fire,  than  take  the  oath  of  the  least 
wicked  among  ye !" 

'  "  By  all  the  imps  of  hell !  you  shall  have  your  choice  !"  re- 
turned  the  infuriated  mutineer.  "Ha,  ha,  ha!"  he  wildly 
laughed;  "I  have  to  thank  you  for  the  suggestion.  The  ship 
shall  be  fired  !  ha,  ha,  ha  !" 

•'Fire  away!"  returned  Harold,  unterrified  by  the  threat. 
"  Fire  away  !  and  we'll  make  sure  that  it  shall  be  your  funeral 
pyre  !>; 

"  And  yours,  too !"  added  Shaggy  Mart. 

"  Don't  flatter  yourself  with  any  such  notion,"  replied  Harold. 
"  We've  one  seaworthy  boat  left  yet,  and  plenty  of  floating 
spars  abuui,  with  which  we  can  construct  a  raft;  besides,  we're 
within  a  league  of  shore.  So  fire  away — your  crimes  deserve 
no  less  a  punishment!" 

"  1  fear  not  death,"  said  Cumstock. 

There  was  a  dead  silence  for  some  minutes.  The  captain's 
men  sat  anxiou&ly  awaiting  the  next  demonstration  of  the 
fiends  below. 

Presently,  a  thin  curl  of  smoke  was  seen  rising  from  beneath 
the  mass  of  rubbish  on  the  grated  hatches;  the  fumes  of  burn 
ing  oakum  was  quickly  perceptible ;  and,  soon,  a  tongue  of 
/lame,  shot  up  from  tne  combustible  mass. 

But,  Captain  Haroid,  had  determined  that  the  ship  should  be 
saved  at  all  hazards ;  and  no  sooner  was  the  diabolical  threat 
made,  than  he  ordered  all  the  buckets  to  be  brought  and  lan 
yards  swung  to  them.  They  were  immediately  filled  from  the 
larboard  side  of  the  vessel,  which  had  heeled  considerably  in 
consequence  of  the  shifting  of  a  portion  of  the  cargo  during  the 
rough  gaie  recently  experienced. 

On  the  first  indications  that  the  fiendish  threat  was  put  in 
execution,  the  men  who  had  buckets  began  dashing  water  on 
the  burning  pile,  while  others  used  every  exertion  to  smother  it 
by  spreading  pieces  of  sails,  saturated  with  salt  water,  orer  the 


b8  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  \    OR, 

mass.  For  a  time,  it  was  doubtful  which  would  corquer,  the 
fire,  or  those  who  fought  it  so  vigorously  ;  -but  at  length  the 
latter  prevailed,  and  the  old  King  Philip  was  once  more  saved 
from  threatened  destruction. 

The  mutineers,  by  no  means,  intended  thus  to  sacrifice  them 
selves  ;  for,  while  all  on  deck  were  striving  to  quench  the  flames, 
their  enemies  were  using  equal  exertions  to  make  a  breach 
through  the  forecastle.  The  carpenter's  saw  had  been  busy 
for  some  time  ere  their  intentions  were  discovered  ;  and  in  a 
very  few  minutes  they  would  have  cut  their  way  through  had 
they  been  left  unmolested.  Unfortunately  for  them,  they  com 
menced  the  work  with  their  axes  ere  the  saw  had  done  its  quiet 
work.  One  fellow  succeeded  in  getting  his  hands  through  an 
aperture,  for  the  purpose  of  wrenching  off  a  strip  of  board  ;  but 
dearly"  did  he  pay  for  his  temerity.  The  naked  hands  were  dis 
covered  by  Chou,  and,  in  an  instant  with  his  sharp-edged  creese, 
(a  Siamese  weapon)  he  severed  both  hands  from  the  wrists  at 
a  single  blow,  and  with  as  keen  a  relish  as  if  he  were  chopping 
mutton  to  serve  up  for  his  own  palate.  The  maimed  one  sud 
denly  drew  in  his  bloody  stumps,  and  uttering  a  hideous,  ringing 
yell,  he  fell  to  the  forecastle  floor !  Yet  the  mutineers  conti 
nued  to  work  away,  notwithstanding  one  of  the  boldest  among 
them  was  no  better  than  a  dead  man  to  them.  But  all  in  vain  ; 
they  toiled  against  every  disadvantage  in  this  quarter. 

Again  operations  were  suspended,  and  Shaggy  Mart  once 
more  appealed  to  the  captain  for  a  cessation  of  the  strife,  pro 
mising  to  submit  to  any  conditions,  however  humiliating,  if  he 
would  set  them  free  from  the  trap  in  which  they  were  caught, 
and  spare  their  lives. 

But  Captain  Harold  now  knew  too  much  of  the  character  of 
the  men  he  had  to  deal  with ;  he  was  aware,  too,  that  they 
knew  too  well,  even  if  he  spared  them,  they  must  suffer  the 
ignominious  death  of  pirates,  if  they  were  ever  afterwards  de 
tected.  Their  crimes,  already  committed,  were  enough  to 
carry  them  to  the  scaffold,  and  well  they  knew  it.  What,  then, 
were  the  violation  of  promises  and  oaths  to  men  who  had  for 
feited  their  right  even  to  live?  Nothing  ;  and  so  reasoned  the 
commander  of  the  King  Philip,  otherwise  his  really  magnani 
mous  soul  would  have  prompted  him  to  extend  some  clemency 
to  those  misguided  wretches  who  were  striving  to  destroy  him 
and  the  resolute  defenders  of  his  ship.  For  these  and  other 
reasons  did  the  captain  decline  to  treat  with  the  miscreants, 
and  he  refused  Shaggy  Mart's  proposition  with  words  intended' 
rather  to  inflame  than  allay  the  choler  of  this  mutinous  fiend. 

"  Hell's  torments  shall  then  be  your  portion  !  and  quickly, 
too  !  ay,  we'll  all  go  to  pandemonium  together  !"  shouted  the 


THE    ROMAN  TIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  69 

mutineer  in  threatening  language,  in  reply  to  the  captain's  em 
phatic  refusal.  "  There  are  three  kegs  of  powdfer  within  my 
reach  I  Ah,  ha,  ha!  there's  no  escape  by  boat,  you  see! — 
Have  I  touched  you  now !" 

"  No — I'm  not  a  man  to  be  intimidated  by  threats !"  an 
swered  Harold  ;  no,  not  if  every  cask  below  deck  contained 
powder  instead  of  oil  !  and  a  man  of  courage  instead  of  a* 
coward  threatened  me." 

"  May  hell's  curses  light  upon  you!"  returned  the  enraged 
Cumstock.  "  1 11  yet  find  means  to  bring  you  to  your  marrow 
bones  !  I'll  give  you  one  hour  to  come  to  terms — one  momen 
after  that,  the  powder  shaft  be  fired  !" 

"  Fire  away  !  '  I'll  parley  no  longer  with  a  cowardly  wretch  !" 
said  the  captain. 

"  Your  insolence  has  sealed  the  doom  of  the  ship  and  all  her 
crew !" 

Uttering  these  words,  Shaggy  Mart  left  the  forecastle,  not 
for  the  purpose  of  carrying  his  threat  into  execution — he  was 
too  much  of  a  coward,  indeed,  for  any  act  so  desperate  as  that 
— but  for  the  purpose  of  reconnoitering,  with  the  hope  that  some 
chance  yet  remained  to  regain  the  deck. 

At  length,  some  of  the  mutineers,  on  discovering  that  the  firo 
was  quenched,  began  examining  its  effect.  They  found  thai 
.he  grated  hatch  was  burnt  to  a  cinder,  and  it  required  but  a 
slight  effort  of  the  hand  to  clear  it  away.  Still,  the  half-burnt 
spar  supported  the  rubbish  above ;  but  it  was  thought  they 
might  possibly  make  their  way  through  it,  while  the  contest 
was  going  on  forward. 

Holmes  was  the  first  man  to  try  the  dangerous  experiment ; 
and,  to  his  surprise,  on  raising  himself  up,  the  fire  had  so  far 
burned  the  bottom  of  the  pile,  that  he  was  enabled  to-thrust  his 
arm  through  it,  and  without  being  discovered  he  succeeded  in 
clearing  away  a  space  sufficiently  large  to  admit  his  body. 

Holmes  immediately  passed  the  word  below  for  his  comrades 
to  follow,  and  then  forced  himself  through  the  offensive  heap, 
gained  the  open  air.  and  laid  flat  upon  the  deck,  unseen  by  the 
enemy,  until  some  three  or  four  had  done  likewise,  and  among 
these,*  was  Cumstock,  their  leader. 

Waldron,  the  first  officer,  first  discovered  the  mutineers,  and 
gave  the  alarm.  The  men  forward,  headed  by  their  comman* 
der,  rushed  forth  to  meet  them.  Now  came  "  the  tug  of  war." 
Shaggy  Mart,  like  an  uncaged  tiger,  fought  with  desperation. 
Armed  with  a  heavy  broad-axe,  which  he  wielded  with  great 
power,  he,  together  with  most  of  his  comrades,  armed  with 
muskets,  succeeded  for  some  time  in  keeping  the  ship's  defenders 
at  bay.  Indeed,  for  a  long  time,  he  seemed  to  have  the  idvan- 


60  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN J    OR, 

tage;  but  the  tide  of  battle  at  length  turned.  Single-handed, 
Captain  Hait>ld  engaged  the  desperado  ;  against  the  battle-axe 
he  opposed  a  small  sabre,  which  was  struck  from  his  hand;  he 
then  drew  his  revolver ;  but  one  charge  remained  in  it ;  un 
fortunately  that  missed  fire!  The  formidable  weapon  of  his 
antagonist  was  raised  ;  but  ere  it  descended,  a  lance  whizzed 
•  across  the  deck,  and  struck  the  ruffian !  It  pierced  his  body 
through,  and  he  fell  upon  the  deck  a  corpse,  without  uttering  a 
groan  !  The  lance  which  thus  saved  the  commander's  life,  and 
in  all  probability  was  the  blow  which  decided  the  contest,  was 
darted  by  the  unerring  arm  of  Paul  Payson,  who  watched  with 
eagerness,  the  combat  of  the  two  leaders. 

The  assailants  paused  and  fell  back  when  they  beheld  the  fall 
of  Shaggy  Mart. 

"Onward!  onward  !  comrades!"  shouted  Holmes,  who  now 
assumed  the  leadership  of  the  mutinous  gang.  "  Fight !  right 
to  the  last  gasp!  Give  no  quarter!  take  none!  If  we  allow 
ourselves  to  be  taken  alive,  we  shall  be  tortured  to  death  ! — re 
member  that.  But  we'll  not  be  taken — our  case  is  not  so  des 
perate  as  it  looks.  On,  on,  boys  !  we'll  conquer  yet !" 

This  speech  seemed  to  inspire  the  mutineers  with  new  courage 

"  Conquer  or  die  !"  was  their  cry. 

Like  so  many  fiercely  wild  savages  they  renewed  the  attack, 
and  never  did  men  fight  more  bravely  ;  but  their  impetuosity 
destroyed  them.  Their  enemies  were  cool  as  well  as  courage 
ous,  and  being  now  mostly  armed  with  harpoons,  lances  and 
spears,  they  thrust  them  through  as  if  they  had  been  so  many 
seals. 

The  slaughter  was  immense.  All  had  fallen,  save  two. 
Bather  than  die  as  they  had  seen  their  comrades  die,  they  leaped 
overboard,  and  quickly  fell  a  prey  to  the  shoal  of  sharks  which 
were  attracted  about  the  ship  by  the  smell  of  human  blood. 

The  deadly  strife  was  ended,  and  the  rightful  party  main 
tained  possession  of  the  ship  ;  but  they  had  suffered  severely, 
for  of  the  whole  number  of  men,  who  had  fought  with  the  cap 
tain,  ouly  six  remained,  besides  the  two  officers,  who  were  fit 
for  duty. 

The  bodies  of  the  mutineers  were  thrown  overboard,  to  gorge 
the  stomachs  of  the  ravenous  creatures  which  had  already  de- 
roured  two  of  their  number.  Those  who  had  fallen  among  the 
defenders,  were  consigned  to  the  deep  in  a  less  summary  way  ; 
indeed,  not  until  their  bodies  had  been  carefully  sewed  in  canvas, 
and  the  impressive  burial  service  of  the  sea  performed  in  a  sol 
emn  manner. 


With  what  ,'oy  did  the  remaining  portion  of  that  ship's  crew 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  61 

nail  the  dawn  of  morning,  after  that  night  of  terrors.  The  sun 
arose  from  out  the  calm  ocean  in  all  his  regal  majesty  ;  soft 
breezes  rippled  the  golden-tinged  waters,  and  the  sky  was  clear 
and  cloudless.  The  King  Philip  had  floated  past  the  northerly 
headland  of  the  Bay  of  Omura,  and  catching  the  swelling  tide, 
.she  drifted  past  the  island  of  Papenberg.  Fearing  to  enter  far 
ther  into  the  Japanese  harbor  of  Nagasaki,  she  anchored  near 
the  island,  the  captain  trusting,  that  under  the  circumstances, 
he  would  be  allowed  to  remain  there,  unmolested,  until. he  could 
rig  jury-masts,  and  otherwise  put  the  ship  in  a  condition  that 
he  might  proceed  to  some  port  where  he  could  obtain  a  complete 
rig  before  attempting  a  voyage  homeward  by  the  way  of  Cape 
Horn.  Captain  Harold  knew  something  of  the  characteristics 
of  the  Japanese  people,  and  he  knew,  too,  that  the  decree  ex 
cluding  foreigners  from  landing  upon  their  territory,  was  in  full 
force.  The  ship  was  moored  about  four  miles  from  Nagasaki, 
and  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  nearest  shore,  though 
within  two  cable  lengths  of  the  little  island  of  Papenberg, 
which  was  inhabited  only  by  a  few  fishermen.  Here,  it  was 
thought  they  might  be  able  to  remain,  unquestioned  by  the  au 
thorities,  providing  they  attempted  not  to  go  on  shore. 

But  they  were  too  charitable  in  their  estimate  of  Japanese 
hospitality  ;  for,  scarcely  had  five  minutes  elapsed,  after  drop 
ping  anchor,  when  upon  the  heights  ashore,  a  display  of  striped 
canvas  began  to  be  made,  extending  along  on  either  side  for 
nearly  a  mile.  This  canvas  was  painted  so  as  to  resemble  for 
tifications,  and  the  Americans  would  have  been  deceived  thereby, 
had  they  not  observed  the  mock  fortresses  made  with  their 
own  eyes.  Presently  a  gun  was  fired  from  one  of  those  petti 
coat  forts  !  This  was  a  signal  for  some  important  movement. 

The  captain  took  his  glass  and  looked  towards  Nagasaki, 
when  to  his  amazement,  he  beheld  a  fleet  of  row-boats,  num 
bering  hundreds,  shoot  out  from  the  shore,  and  with  naval  pre 
cision,  form  into  lines  or  platoons,  eight  deep.  At  a  distance 
they  looked  like  a  brigade  of  infantry,  in  marching  order,  the 
boats  being  gaily  painted,  and  all  alike,  with  the  exception  of 
some  half  dozen,  which  our  Yankee  friends  supposed  contained 
the  Mandarins,  or  officers  of  this  formidable  flotilla,  as  they 
were  somewhat  larger,  and  were  gorgeously  gilded  instead  of 
being  painted. 

A  gun  fired  from  one  of  the  sham  forts,  appeared  to  be  the 
signal  for  the  moving  of  this  belligerent-looking,  aquatic  pro 
cession.  The  vast  pageant  moved  down  the  harbor  in  perfect 
order,  attracting  a  vast  concourse  of  the  inhabitants  all  along 
the  shores  and  heights  of  the  picturesque  bay.  The  spectacle, 
to  the  Americans  aboard  the  whaler,  was  as  magnificent  as  it 


02  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN;    OR, 

was  novel ;  and  as  it  grew  nearer,  a  Babel  of  sounds  was  heard 
though  intended  for  music,  yet  to  the  strangers  it  was  discord 
most  horrible,  and  one  would  have  not  required  a  great  stretch 
of  the  imagination,  to  have  supposed  that  Satan  had  marshalled 
his  forces  to  the  music  of  the  grand  pandemonium  band.  Such 
a  braying  of  horns,  clanging  of  cymbals,  ringing  of  bells,  crash 
ing  of  gongs,  was  scarcely  ever  heard  even  by  the  Celestials  at 
the  Feast  of  Lanterns.  Added  to  this,  the  numerous  display 
of  gay  banners,  pennons  and  streamers,  and  one  can  form  in  his 
mind  a  tolerably  accurate  idea  of  that  formidable  array,  which 
undoubtedly  was  put  in  motion  to  impress  the  strangers  with 
the  mighty  warlike  resources  of  the  Japanese  Empire,  and  to 
strike  awe  to  their  hearts,  rather  than  for  the  purposes  of  at 
tacking  and  destroying  a  ship  which  had  put  in  there  in  dis 
tress. 

Soon  the  van  of  this  imposing  flotilla  came  within  a  cable's 
length  distance  of  the  King  Philip's  bow,  when  the  column  se 
parated,  three  lines  of  which,  to  use  a  military  phrase,  deploy 
ing  to  the  right  and  left,  then  proceeding  on  with  remarkable 
regularity,  circularly,  until  they  had  passed  a  few  rods  beyond 
a  line  with  the  ship's  stern  ;  then  closing  up  in  the  same  order, 
they  formed  a  circle,  three  deep,  completely  around  the  ship. 

This  grand  manoeuvre  would,  perhaps,  have  done  very  well 
for  the  intimidation  of  an  unarmed  whaler,  or  merchantman, 
but  a  like  manosuvre,  for  the  same  purpose,  with  a  frigate,  or 
even  a  sloop-of-war,  might  be  laughed  at ;  for  a  few  broadsides 
could  have  annihilated  such  a  force,  so  arranged,  in  a  space  of 
time  that  would  have  allowed  few  if  any  to  have  escaped. 

When  the  ship  became  completely  surrounded,  the  terrible 
music  ceased,  and  in  a  moment  each  boat  was  attached  to  the 
other,  by  passing  a  small  cliain  from  the  bow  of  one  to  the 
stern  of  the  one  immediately  in  advance  ;  thus  forming  a 
perfect  circular  bridge  or  endless  chain  of  boats.  This  being 
accomplished,  each  man  substituted  an  antiquated  looking 
musket  for  his  oar,  and  thus  they  all  stood  in  magnificent  and 
fearful  array,  before  that  handful  of  American  whalemen. 

These  were  called  the  guard-boats  of  his  puissant  excellency, 
the  Governor  of  Kiooisoo,  a  Mandarin,  or  noble,  of  the  seccfhd 
grade. 

A  few  moments  elapsed,  when  one  of  the  larger  boats,  one 
more  gorgeously  decorated  than  the  rest,  with  a  splendid  ban 
ner,  containing  some  fabulous  monster  for  a  device,  left  the 
warlike  circle,  and  approached  the  strange  ship  which  was 
moored  in  prohibited  waters.  The  Yankees  had  looked  upon 
this  scene  with  more  of  wonder  than  of  awe ;  and  now  they 
turned  their  eyes  upon  the  single  approaching  object,  whicfa 

i 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY  63 

was  to  make  known  the  meaning  and  intent  of  this  singular 
display.  The  boat,  or  barge  it  may  be  termed,  of  the  chief  of 
the  flotilla,  was  not  merely  a  tinselled  affair  ;  its  drapery  of 
orange  and  violet-colored  silks,  with  its  golden  ornaments,  showed 
ofT  to  better  advantage  on  a  nearer  view.  It  was  manned  by 
twelve  oarsmen,  dressed  in  a  superb  uniform,  while  the  chief 
was  arrayed  in  a  costly  and  magnificent  oriental  costume.  By 
the  side  of  the  chief  sat  a  gentleman  in  European  costume,  who 
proved  to  be  a  Dutch  interpreter,  but  who  was  a  master  of  the 
English*,  as  well  as  other  European  languages. 

Gracefully  and  majestically  the  barge  swept  alongside  the 
weather-beaten  ship,  and  hauled  up  to  the  gangway.  Captain 
Harold  ordered  the  gangway-stairs  to  be  let  down  and  the  in 
terpreter  followed  by  the  officer,  came  on  deck. 

After  a  brief  introductory  conversation,  the  interpreter  said — 

"  You  are  from  the  United  States,  I  perceive  ?" 

"  We  are." 

"  And  you  have  ventured  into  these  interdicted  waters  be 
cause  in  the  disabled  state  of  your  ship  you  could  make  no 
other  port?"  observed  the  interpreter,  interrogatively. 

"  We  are  here,  sir,  because  the  current  set  us  in,"  replied 
Harold.  "  We  know  the  Japanese  decree,  shutting  out  foreign 
ships  from  their  harbors,  and  be  assured  it  was  not  our  will, 
but  the  will  of  Providence  which  sent  us  hither." 

"What  is  your  will  ?" 

"  To  remain  here  a  few  days  simply  for  the  purpose  of  fitting 
up  the  ship  so  that  we  may  set  sail  for  a  more  friendly  port," 
answered  captain  Harold. 

The  interpreter  turned  towards  the  splendidly  appareled  offi 
cer,  and  after  a  brief  parley  in  the  Japanese  tongue,  the  former 
thus  addressed  our  Yankee  captain  : 

"  I  am  instructed  to  say  that  the  Japanese  laws  are  subject 
to  the  laws  of  the  Almighty.  What  He  has  decreed  cannot  be 
changed  by  the  spiritual  or  secular  emperor  of  this  mighty  em 
pire.  Providence  has  driven  your  ship  into  a  prohibited  port; 
to  show  you  that  the  Japanese  are  not  that  inhospitable  people 
which  they  have  been  described  in  other  parts  of  the  civilized 
world  to  be,  your  ship  will  be  allowed  to  remain  here  Jen  days, 
for  the  purpose  you  have  mentioned,  on  one  condition." 

"And  what  is  that?" 

.  "  That  yourself  and  two  of  your  men  become  hostages  that, 
under  no  circumstances,  not  one  of  this  ship's  company  shall 
attempt  to  land  upon  our  shores,  or  attempt  to  board  any  junk, 
barge,  boat,  or  other  water-craft,  in  Japanese  waters." 

Captain  Harold,  after  consultation  with  his  first  officer,  ac 
cepted  the  terms  thus  imposed. 


64  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  J    OR, 

"  Should  this  condition  be  violated,"  added  the  interpreter, 
"  I  would  not  answer  for  your  head.  Choose  your  companions." 

"  My  brave  men,"  said  Captain  Harold,  turning  to  his  crew, 
"  J  will  not  urge  or  even  ask  any  one  of  you  to  become,  with 
myself,  a  hostage,  or  a  sort  of  prisoner,  to  the  government  of 
this  strange  people.  You  have  had  the  same  opportunity  to 
judge  whether  they  mean  well  or  ill  that  I  have  had.  Let  me 
say,  however,  I  have  no  apprehensions  that  they  will  not  keep 
their  faith  ;  and  as  I  have  some  curiosity  to  see  more  of  this 
strange  people,  I  had  rather  go  than  remain  on  board,  during  the 
specified  time  the  ship  is  to  be  moored  in  these  waters.  Those 
of  you  who  will  volunteer  to  accompany  me  will  please  step 
forward." 

Paul  Payson,  as  if  his  happiness  depended  upon  the  adven 
ture,  leaped  forward,  took  off  his  hat,  made  a  true  sailor's  bow, 
and  said,  almost  breathlessly, 

"  I  will  go,  sir." 

"  And,  may  I  never  see  hum,  if  I  do'nt  go  tew/'  said  Zab- 
diel  Stubbs,  stepping  forward,  and  going  through  similar  motions 
to  his  friend  Paul. 

"  Thanks,  my  brave  fellows  ;  I  could  not  have  made  a  better 
selection,"  remarked  Captain  Harold.  Then  addressing  the 
interpreter,  he  said,  "in  thirty  minutes  we  shall  be  ready  to 
accompany  you." 

A  change  of  wardrobe  and  a  few  directions  to  Mr.  Waldron, 
the  first  officer,  were  all  the  preparations  necessary.  Paul  ap 
peared  on  deck  clad  precisely  as  he  was  on  the  day  he  went 
aboard  the  King  Philip,  while  Zabdiel  donned  that  "long  tail 
blue,"  which  had  been  repaired  since  its  curtailment,  and  en 
cased  his  nether  limbs  in  that  same  pair  of  unmentionables, 
straps  and  all.  It  was  evident  that  he  had  the  idea  in  his  mind 
of  making  an  impression  among  the  hearts  of  the  Japanese 
girls,  should  he  chance  to  fall  in  with  any. 

Before  the  moment  arrived  for  departure,  Mr.  Waldron 
beckoned  Paul  into  the  cabin,  when  he  placed  a  pair  of  revol 
vers  in  his  hands,  saying — 

"  Stow  these  under  your  jacket ;  they  may  be  of  service  to 
you  ;  and,  as  for  ammunition,  help  yourself  from  my  chesfr." 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir  ;  and  many  thanks,  too,"  replied  our  hero,  who 
soon  armed  and  equipped  himself  for  considerable  of  a  siege. 

The  captain  had  taken  a  like  precaution,  and  so  had  Zabdiel, 
and  thus  secretly  armed,  they  announced  their  readiness  to 
depart. 

The  trio  of  Americans  were  politely  escorted  aboard  the 
gilded  barge,  and  put  off  for  the  fleet.  As  soon  as  it  had  taken 
its  place  in  the  circle,  a  signal  was  given,  the  unearthly  music 


THK  ABDUOT10M. 


THfi    BOMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY  67 

ftruck  up,  and  the  imposing  flotilla  moved  up  the  harbor  towards 
Nagasaki,  leaving  some  half  a  score  of  boats  behind  to  guard 
the  ship,  or  rather,  watch  the  movements  of  the  sailors  aboard 
of  her,  with  instructions,  also,  to  supply  any  stores  from  shore 
for  the  ship  that  might  be  deemed  absolutely  necessary. 

Never  did  a  conquering  hero  have  a  more  magnificent  escort 
into  a  city,  than  did  our  Yankee  friends  to  the  imperial  quay  at 
Nagasaki.  On  the  shore  they  were  met  by  the  Governor  of 
Kiooisoo,  placed  in  a  magnificent  wheelless  vehicle,  which  being 
raised  to  the  shoulders  of  a  score  or  more  of  men,,  they  were 
escorted  by  the  Governor's  retinue,  through  the  narrow,  thronged 
streets,  to  the  grand  palace. 

"Gineral- musters  and  cattle-shows!"  at  length  exclaimed 
Zab,  unable  any  longer  to  keep  his  astonishment  bottled  up ; 
"  this  beats  harpoonin'  whales  and  lickin'  mutineers  ! — wonder 
what's  it  all  abaout?  Steady,  there,  you  Japan  fallers !  we 
ain't  used  to  ridin'  on  no  wheels,  no  haow  !  Wai,  by  Jehu,  this 
is  goin'  on't !  I  hope,  capen,  they'll  gin  us  some  fresh  grub — • 
it's  nigh  abaout  grub*  time,  naow  ?  Thunder  and  turnips.! 
everybody  looks  jest  like  them  play-acters  at  the  Mewseum  in 
Bosting  !  Helloa,  there,  what  are  ye  abaout,  you  Japan  chaps ! 
you'll  teep  us  out  into  the  road,  ef  you  ain't  darned  keerful  I 
Steady,  now,  as  we  sailors  say — mind  your  -helm  !  I  say,  old 
chap,  can't  you  give  us  a  chaw  o'  tobacker  ?  I  ain't  had  a 
chaw  since  we  took  the  last  barrel  o'  blubber,  I  ain't  by  pewter!" 

But  Zab's  observations  were  cut  off  by  their  arrival  at  the 
palace  gate ;  for  he  became  dumb  with  astonishment  at  the 
splendor  which  here  burst  upon  his  bewildered  senses  ;  but  we 
shall  not  undertake  a  description  of  Japanese  magnificence  at 
this  time,  as  we  shall  have  occasion  to  refer  to  it  in  the  suc 
ceeding  chapters  of  this  veritable  yarn,  as  well  as  to  many 
peculiarities  of  the  people  of  this  interesting  country. 


YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  ;    O», 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Wonders  of  Japan — Reception  of  the  American  Whalemen— 
The  Governor  and  the  Princess — -Our  hero  makes  an  im 
pression. 

IT  has  been  remarked  by  some  voyagers  to  the  islands  of  the 
western  Pacific,  that  it  is  a  much  easier  matter  to  land  on  the 
shores  of  Japan  than  to  sail  therefrom.  Be  this  as  it  may,  we 
shall  not  argue  the  point  in  this  chapter,  but  leave  events  in  the 
history  of  those  we  have  landed  there  to  settle  the  question. 

The  wealth  and  magnificence  of  this  empire,  of  filly  millions 
of  souls,  have  never  been  exaggerated.  More  is  known  of  its 
condition  as  it  existed  two  hundred  years  ago,  by  other  nations, 
than  is  known  by  them  of  its  present  condition.  Then  her  his 
tory  was  not  a  "sealed  book  ;"  for  she  had  commercial  inter 
course  with  Portugal,  Holland,  China,  and  other  nations  ;  and 
many  Europeans  found  there  a  home,  and  were  treated  with 
such  leniency,  that  the  Jesuits,  to  reciprocate  their  kindness, 
commenced  teaching  them  the  Romish  creed.  In  time,  so  nu 
merous  had  their  proselytes  become,  that  the  holy  fathers  began 
to  assume  importance,  and  refused  to  pay  that  respect  and  obe 
dience  to  either  the  spiritual  or  secular  emperor,  and  to  the 
princes  of  the  empire,  which  they  demanded.  This  impolitic 
course  caused  one  of  the  bloodiest  massacres  on  record  ;  forty 
thousand  Catholic  Christians  having  been  butchered  in  the  space 
of  a  few  months  ;  indeed,  all  who  professed  Christianity  were 
exterminated,  and  the  ports  of  the  empire  were  closed  against 
all  nations.  Subsequently,  the  Dutch  were  permitted  to  send  a 
ship,  once  or  twice  a  year,  and  the  Chinese  more  frequently, 
to  the  port  of  Nagasaki ;  but  neither  officers  or  crew  were  per 
mitted  to  come  ashore,  except  upon  a  little  islet  in  the  harbor, 
connected  with  the  imperial  pier  by  a  drawbridge.  The  bridge, 
since  its  construction,  has  been  constantly  and  strictly  guarded. 
This  islet  has  several  buildings  upon  it,  surrounded  by  a  high 
wall,  and  looks  like  a  prison ;  in  fact,  we  believe,  that  it  is  so 
termed.  Here  is  transacted  all  the  business  which  Japan  me) 
chants  have  with  "  outsiders." 


^HE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  69 

Of  late  years,  however,  the  Japanese  have  so  relaxed  the 
enforcement  of  their  ancient  decree  of  prohibition,  that  they 
have  occasionally  permitted  foreigners  to  come  ashore  ;  but 
they  make  prisoners  of  them  as  soon  as  they  land,  elicit 
what  information  they  can  from  them,  treat  them  well  other 
wise,  though  seldom  suffering  them  to  leave  the  country. 

If  this  empire  was  noted  for  its  resources  and  magnificence 
two  centuries  ago,  what  must  be  its  splendors  now,  if  as  asserted, 
it  has  increased  in  wealth,  population  and  resources,  since  they 
cut  off  their  commercial  intercourse,  almost  entirely,  from  the 
rest  of  the  world.  No  wonder  was  it,  that  the  eyes  of  the  three 
Americans  of  the  King  Philip,  were  bedazzled  at  the  costly 
splendors  which  they  beheld  on  every  side,  on  entering  the 
palace  grounds  of  the  governor.  Gold  here  seemed  as  abundant 
as  base  metals  are  with  us,  for  it  gave  lustre  to  every  thing  to 
which  it  could  impart  elegance,  even  to  the  entire  roofs  of  the 
palace  edifices,  and  to  stately  pillars,  porticos,  balustrades,  etc. ; 
out  all  this  glitter  of  precious  metal  was  relieved  by  beauties 
more  attractive  to  the  man  of  refined  taste.  The  gardens  were 
taid  out  with  consummate  skill,  showing  a  perfection  in  horti 
culture  and  floriculture,  the  rest  of  the  world  has  scarcely 
dreamed  of.  Native  and  exotic  plants  were  made  to  thrive 
equally  well  together ;  and  it  seemed  as  if  here  was,  truly,  the 
Court  of  Flora ;  and  that  all  her  subjects  were  fully  represen- 
teo.  But  what  appeared  more  wonderful  still,  was  the  evidences 
that  the  Japanese  understood  the  art  of  increasing  and  reducing 
the  size  of  flowers.  Peach  and  cherry  blossoms  were  made  to 
grow  to  the  size  of  roses,  and  roses  and  carnelias  to  the  size  of 
sun-flowers.  Forest  trees  were  made  to  grow  beyond  their 
known  size  in  Europe  or  America,  and  were  so  dwarfed  that 
half  a  dozen  varieties  were  to  be  seen,  in  perfect  health,  in  a 
glass  case  two  inches  in  height.  Cascades  and  fountains,  vine- 
embowered  walks,  and  various  other  attractions,  completed  the 
picture  which  met  the  view  of  the  strangers  from  a  far-off 
land. 

Captain  Harold,  with  Paul  and  Zabdiel,  were  at  length  es 
corted  into  the  reception  saloon,  where  sat,  in  regal  dignity,  the 
governor  of  Kiooisoo,  arrayed  in  gorgeous  robes,  attended  by 
his  subordinates,  also  magnificently  appareled.  His  daughter, 
the  lovely  princess  Titczing,  whose  curiosity  to  see  the  strangers 
was  unbounded,  was  permitted  to  be  present  with  her  maids. 
She  was  attired  in  a  magnificent  robe  of  silk,  ornamented  with 
innumerable  gems,  while  upon  her  neck  she  wore  a  necklace 
of  pink  pearls,  each  of  which  would  have  added  beauty  to  the 
richest  coronet  of  Europe.  The  style  of  b?r  head-dress  seemed 
to  have  been  borrowed  from  the  Persia*  was  dazzlingly 


70  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  J    OR, 

beautiful — ornate  with  the  richest  of  diamonds,  emeralds,  rubies, 
topazes,  carbuncles,  and  other  precious  gems.  Titczing  was  a 
great  favorite  among  the  noble  gallants  of  Nagasaki,  and  scarce 
ly  one  was  there  who  had  not  sued  in  vain  for  her  hand.  She 
was  beautiful,  too,  according  to  the  standard  of  Japanese  beauty. 
She  was  also  well  educated  and  accomplished;  and  what  was 
quite  remarkable  in  a  Japanese  lady,  she  could  read  and  speak 
several  foreign  languages,  and  among  them  the  English.  Of 
course,  the  interview  which  followed,  was,  on  this  account,  a 
matter  of  greater  curiosity  to  the  charming  princess,  than  to 
most  of  those  in  attendance. 

Talk  of  Yankee  inquisitiveness!  why  the  Japanese  are  more 
than  our  equals  in  this  respect ;  for,  truly,  most  of  their  infor 
mation,  regarding  what  is  going  on  in  other  parts  of  the  earth, 
is  by  this  means  obtained ;  and  although  their  occasional  visit 
ants  at  Nagasaki  factory  or  prison,  on  the  island,  are  Dutchmen, 
yet  they  contrive  to  squeeze  from  their  somewhat  obtuse  intel 
lects,  the  leading  movements  of  European  and  American  na 
tions  ;  but,  whenever,  by  chance,  a  Yankee,  a  John  Bull,  or  a 
Johnny  Crapeau,  is  thrown  upon  their  shores,  then  do  they  ex 
ercise  their  inquisitive  powers  to  the  utmost,  and  in  some 
instances  have  extorted  answers  to  their  inquiries  by  threats 
of  severe  punishment. 

Captain  Harold,  desirous  of  making  a  eood  impression  upon 
his  inquisitors  as  to  the  character  and  condition  of  the  Ameri 
can  people,  frankly  replied  to  ail  the  questions  put  to  him 
through  the  interpreter,  making  such  observations,  from  time 
to  time,  as  he  deemed  prudent  and  politic.  The  form  and  cha 
racter  of  our  republican  institutions ;  their  probable  perma 
nence  ;  the  system  of  education  ;  our  vast  resources  and  com 
mercial  enterprise  ;  internal  improvements  ;  the  magnetic 
telegraph,  &c.,  &c.,  were  among  the  subjects  of  inquiry.  All 
of  which  the  governor  listened  to  with  the  most  profound  at 
tention,  while  his  scribe  made  record  of  all  the  information 
thus  elicited.  In  return,  there  was  one  item  of  intelligence  the 
Americans  received  through  the  interpreter,  which  they  had 
not  before  learned,  and  that  was  the  war  with  Mexico,  and  the 
brilliant  successes  of  our  armies  on  the  Rio  Grande,  and  the 
Valley  of  Mexico,  under  the  gallant  Generals  Taylor  and  Scott ; 
and,  thereby,  the  acquisition  of  California  and  New  Mexico. 

At  this  unexpected  news,  Zabdiel  could  not  suppress  the  pa 
triotic  ardor  which  filled  his  breast,  and  to  give  vent  to  his 
feelings,  he  swung  his  hat  above  his  head,  and  shouted  to  the 
lop  of  his  voice  : — 

"  Hurray !  hurray ! !  hurray  ! ! !     Three  cheers  foi  old  Zack  > 


THE   ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR   BOY.  71 

*  *  *  Three  cheers  for  Gineral  Scott !  *  *  *  Three  more  for 
the  univarsal  Yankee  nation  !" 

The  very  hall  rung  with  Zab's  patriotic  and  enthusiastic  ex 
clamations.  The  Japanese  were  startled  at  this  singular  de 
monstration  ;  and  the  governor  gravely  inquired  if  the  strangely 
acting  man  was  not  a  lunatic. 

"  Flints  and  firelocks !"  exclaimed  Zab,  on  being  informed 
of  the  governor's  apprehension ;  "  1  rayther  guess  not ;  I  feei 
though  exactly  as  I  dew  on  the  Fourth  o'  July — rayther  inde 
pendent!" 

A  word  of  timely  caution  from  Captain  Harold,  cut  short 
Zab's  patriotic  ebullition,  and,  perhaps,  saved  our  countrymen 
from  a  deal  of  trouble. 

Some  few  questions  were  put  to  Zabdiel  and  Paul,  to  all  of 
which  they  gave  satisfactory  answers.  Indeed,  the  latter  made 
quite  an  impression  by  his  intelligent  manners,  and  the  clear 
ness  with  which  he  explained  the  wonderful  discovery  of  ether 
as  an  anaesthetic  agent,  and  other  achievements  in  medical  and 
mechanical  science. 

This  inquisitorial  interview  lasted  about  two  hours,  when 
the  sound  of  a  gong  announced  that  the  dining  hour  had  ar 
rived. 

Our  friends  were  now  escorted  into  a  magnificent  hall ;  but 
no  signs  of  dinner  were  visible,  much  to  the  disappointment  of 
Zabdiel,  who  declared  himself  hungry  enough  to  "eat  a  raw 
shark."  There  were  no  chairs  or  tables,  but  at  one  end  of  the 
room  there  was  a  "  dais;"  furnished  in  luxurious  style,  with  soft 
mats,  ottomans,  &c.,  upon  which  the  strangers  were  directed 
to  seat  themselves. 

"Capen,"  said  Zab,  when  they  were  left  alone,  with  the  ex 
ception  of  a  guard  at  the  entrance;  "Capen,  I'm  kinder 
s'picious  these  Japan  fallers  mean  to  starve  us ;  but,  by  the 
etarnal,  as  Gin'ral  Jackson  used  to  say  when  his  darnder  was 
riz,  I'll  have  some  grub,  if  I  have  to  fight  for  it.  Wonder  which 
is  the  shortest  cut  to  the  parntry  ?  Helloa,  you  Japan  sojer, 
(addressing  the  guard)  just  you  tell  the  guv'nor's  cook  to  send 
us  in  a  plate  o'  cold  vittles,  if  she  aint  got  nothin'  hot." 

'•  Be  patient,  Stubbs,"  said  the  captain ;  "  the  governor 
means  well,  and  we  shall  fare  well — depend  upon  it." 

"  But,  capen,  I  can't  stand,  no  haow !"  continued  our  hungry 
Yankee.  "  I  wonder  what  they  live  on  in  this  country  ?  1  hope 
they  know  beans  better  than  to  eat  rats,  mice  and  puppies,  as 
them  China  fallers  do.  Oh !  I'd  gin  the  best  whale's  tooth  in 
my  hull  collection  for  a  thick  slice  or  two  o'  roast  beef,  or  roast 
pork,  goose,  turkey,  or  any  o'  that  kind  o'  grub  we  used  to  hev 
at  hum ;  and  top  off  with  an  Ingen  johnny-cake  and  a  punkin' 


72  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  J    OR, 

pie ;  and  wash  it  down  with  a  quart  o'  the  old  man's  last  year's 
cider!  Cabbages  and  cauliflowers  !  why  don't  the} " 

Zab's  gastronomic  comments  were  cut  short,  by  another 
quaking  sound  from  the  gong,  when  a  side-door  opened,  and 
some  half  a  score  or  more  of  servants,  bearing  massive  golden 
dishes  in  their  hands,  which  they  ranged  upon  the  dais,  at  the 
feet  of  the  foreigners.  These  dishes  were  immediately  unco 
vered,  and  displayed  to  the  hungry  trio,  boiled,  baked,  and  fried 
fish  of  various  kinds ;  broiled  and  roasted  birds  ;  rice,  bread 
fruit,  and  other  vegetables  ;  indeed,  it  was  a  banquet  fit  for  an 
emperor,  but  how  to  eat  it,  without  knives  or  forks,  puzzled 
them  exceedingly.  A  servant,  perceiving  the  embarrassment 
of  the  guests,  put  those  strange  little  table  implements,  chop 
sticks,  upon  a  golden  tray,  and  passed  them  to  the  guests  ;  but 
still  they  understood  not  how  they  were  to  accomplish  their 
craving  desires  decently,  now  that  each  had  possession  of  chop 
sticks.  The  servant  hereupon  undertook  to  instruct  them  in 
the  use  of  this  substitute  for  knife  and  fork,  by  going  through 
the  motions. 

"  Wai,"  says  Zab,  "  I'd  rather  eat  my  grub  with  marlin- 
spikes,  or  my  old  grandmother's  knittin'  needles.  I  say,  yeou 
Japan  chap,  can't  yer  lend  us  a  knife,  a  fork,  or  a  spoon  ?  Oh, 
yeou  can't  talk  the  United  States  lingo.  Wai.  you'd  better 
larn  it." 

Finding  he  could  not  make  the  "Japan  chap"  understand, 
Zab  out  with  his  sheath-knife,  and  using  his  fingers  in  lieu  of  a 
fork,  commenced  a  hungry  attack  upon  the  savory  and  really 
delicious  viands  before  him ;  while  the  captain  and  Paul  strove 
to  make  the  best  use  of  the  chop-sticks  possible  ;  but  they  found 
it  so  awkward  a  piece  of  business  that  they  were  compelled  to 
imitate  the  voluble  Zabdiel's  example,  and  resort  to  the  more 
primitive  mode  of  using  their  fingers,  assisted  by  their  pocket 
knives. 

After  surfeiting  themselves  upon  fish  and  fowl,  (the  Japanese 
never  eat  the  flesh  of  quadrupeds,)  the  substantials  were  re 
moved,  and  delicious  fruits  spread  before  them,  accompanied  by 
a  large  silver  pitcher  filled  with  "  sackee,"  which  they  poured 
into  goblets  of  the  same  precious  metal,  and  passed  to  the 
guests.  "  Sackee"  is  the  eau-de-vie  of  the  Japanese ;  in  fact, 
almost  the  only  kind  of  ardent  spirits  used  in  the  country.  It 
is  distilled  from  rice,  is  white  as  milk,  very  pure,  agreeable  to 
the  taste,  and  as  steong  as  the  jolliest  son  of  Neptune  could 
desire. 

Now,  it  so  happened,  that  our  friend  Zabdiel  had  a  decided 
taste  for  "  grog ;"  in  truth,  the  love  thereof  was  his  greatest 
weakness  ;  and,  inasmuch,  as  he  had'nt  had  the  pleasure  of  im- 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  73 

bibing  a  single  cup  for  some  six  weeks — the  King  Philip's  stock 
having  become  exhausted — it  is  not  a  matter  of  very  great 
surprise  that,  on  this  occasion,  he  should  have  drank  deeply, 
particularly,  as  he  came  at  once  to  the  conclusion,  that  sackee 
was  the  most  delicious  of  all  liquors.  Captain  Harold  fre 
quently  cautioned  him  to  beware  of  taking  too  much  ;  but  his 
caution  was  entirely  lost  on  Zabdiel,  for  in  less  than  thirty 
minutes  after  he  had  tasted  sackee,  he  was  stretched  out  in  a 
horizontal  position,  perfectly  unconscious  of  any  thing  that  was 
transpiring  around  him. 

The  old  governor,  when  he  was  made  acquainted  with  the 
effect  that  sackee  had  had  upon  one  of  his  guests,  he  could  not 
avoid  laughing  heartily,  seemingly  considering  it  a  very  capi 
tal  joke. 

"  By  my  ancestor,  the  great  Ziogun  !"  he  exclaimed  ;  "  btit 
the  merry  fellow  shall  be  well  cared  for." 

"  He's  not  merry,  your  greatness,"  said  the  interpreter ; 
''he's  dead  drunk  !" 

"  Not  dead  ?" 

"  No,  he's  alive  ;  but  then  he's  speechlessly,  helplessly  in 
toxicated." 

"  Ha,  ha  !"  laughed  the  governor;  "that's  not  his  fault — the 
blame  must  rest  on  the  sackee." 

Making  this  reply,  he  turned  to  several  of  the  servants,  and 
bade  them  convey  the  intoxicated  stranger  to  a  chamber,  whert 
the  soft  breezes  would  fan  his  brow,  while  lying  under  the  in 
fluence  of  too  strong  potations  of  sackee. 

Again  were  Captain  Harold  and  Paul  Payson  conducted  into 
the  presence  of  the  governor,  though  in  another  and  more  pri 
vate  apartment,  to  which  only  the  interpreter  and  princess 
were  admitted  on  this  occasion,  except  the  servants  kept  in  at 
tendance  to  supply  the  party  with  tea  and  sweetmeats. 

While  the  governor  entered  into  conversation  with  Captain 
Harold,  through  the  interpreter,  the  lovely  a«d  learned  Prin 
cess  Titczing  contrived  to  attract  our  young  hero  to  another 
part  of  the  room,  by  a  display  of  curiosities  which  she  had  pur 
posely  taken  from  a  cabinet.  These  were  principally  rare  and 
beautiful  shells,  and  rich  and  sparkling  gems.  Paul,  desiring  to 
pass  away  the  term  of  his  imprisonment  in  the  palace  as  lightly 
and  agreeably  as  possible,  yielded  readily  to  her  wishes.  Jn  a 
sweet,  musical  voice,  the  lady,  to  Paul's  infinite  surprise,  ad 
dressed  him  in  pretty  good  English. 

"  Americans  no  speak  Japanese  ?"  said  she,  inquiringly. 
"You  very  much  wonder  hear  Japan  lady  speak  English?" 
•he  added,  with  a  look  of  pride. 

"  I  do,  indeed   wonder,"  replied  our  hero,  venturing  to  gaz* 


74  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  \    OR, 

into  hei  animated  countenance,  "  considering  the  slight  inter 
course  your  country  has  with  the  nations  of  the  world." 

"  Ah,  me  study  books — me  very  much  like  to  read  English," 
said  she,  as  she  opened  a  small  book-case,  and  produced  a  copy 
of  Johnson's  Dictionary,  Murray's  Grammar,  miniature  editions 
of  Shakspeare,  Byron  and  Moore,  and  almost  a  complete  set 
of  the  Waverley  novels. 

"  And  have  you  gained  a  knowledge  of  English  from  these 
books  ?"  asked  the  astonished  youth. 

"  Yes  ;  me  have  no  teacher — no  speak  with  any  one  before 
in  English,  except  Mynheer  Vanhoffer,  the  interpreter,"  was 
her  reply. 

In  answer  to  the  question  which  was  her  favorite  author,  she 
unhesitatingly  replied,  the  author  of  Lalla  Rookh.  She  then 
commented  freely  upon  the  various  productions  she  had  read ; 
she  praised  the  Talisman,  Heart  of  Midlothian,  and  the  Lady 
of  the  Lake,  but  was  severe  in  her  denunciations  of  Don  Juan. 
Shakspeare's  Merry  Wives  of  Windsor,  she  laughed  at ;  Romeo 
and  Juliet  she  praised  ;  but  the  Loves  of  Venus,  she  despised. 

Truly,  thought  our  hero,  Japan  produces  blue-stockings  as 
well  as  Europe  or  America;  this  fascinating  creature  was 
either  endeavoring  to  show  off  her  literary  attainments,  or  she 
was  striving  to  make  herself  agreeable  to  the  strange  guest. 

She  then  took  up,  one  by  one,  the  rarest  shells  of  the  beauti 
ful  collection,  and  made  observations  upon  each,  really  evin 
cing  a  taste  and  some  knowledge  of  chonchology. 

Closing  her  cabinet  she  said, — 

"  Me  suppose  Americans  love  flowers  ?" 

"  Yes,"  was  the  youth's  reply. 

"  Me  show  you  many,  very  many  in  the  garden  ; — but  no," 
— she  hesitated  ;  "  me  see  ;"  and  running  towards  her  father, 
she  asked,  as  our  Hero  supposed,  his  permission  to  that  effect. 

She  returned  and  said, 

u  Me  show  you — go  with  me." 

She  led  him  from  the  room  to  the  verandah,  where  a  mag 
nificent  sight  burst  upon  his  vision.  Beneath  him  were  the 
beautiful  gardens  of  the  palace,  brilliantly  illuminated  with  rose, 
orange,  violet,  and  many  other  colored  lights.  Descending  a 
flight  of  steps,  leading  from  the  verandah,  she  led  him  into  a 
vast  conservatory  filled  with  flowering  shrubs  and  plants  of 
every  valuable  description  known  to  the  botanist.  This  was 
also  brilliantly  lighted,  and  the  atmosphere  was  redolent  with  a 
thousand  perfumes. 

Titczing  plucked  the  most  beautiful  rose  she  could  find,  and 
turning  to  our  hero,  remarked — 


THE    KOMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OP    A    SAILOR    BOY.  75 

"  Me  give  you  this  on  one  condition — tell  me  your  name." 

"Most  certainly,"  he  replied  ;  ''my  name  is  Paul." 

"  Me  give  you  the  rose,"  she  said,  placing  it  in  his  hand ; 
"me  call  you  Paul — you  call  me  Titczing;"  and  she  gave  the 
youth  such  a  sweet  look  from  her  lustrous,  love-beaming  eyes, 
that  caused  Paul  to  blush,  and  his  lips  quivered  with  apprehen 
sion,  lest  she  should  next  attempt  to  kiss  hirn  ! 

Our  hero  was  really  a  bashful  youth,  notwithstanding  the  fact 
of  our  having  seen  him  kiss  Sylvia  Sea  bury,  on  a  certain  oc 
casion  ;  and  we  are  not  altogether  positive  he  would  not  have 
been  pleased  to  be  saluted  by  the  pretty,  cherry- red  lips  of 
Titczing  had  not  that  flowery  paradise  been  illuminated. 

For  an  hour  or  more  they  wandered  amid  these  fairy-like 
scenes.  Paul  was  charmed  with  everything  he  beheld ;  and 
his  lovely  companion  seemed  charmed  only  with  him. 

At  length  they  were  summoned  to  return  to  the  private  apart 
ment  of  the  governor.  The  interview  being  over,  Paul  was 
informed  by  Captain  Harold,  that  it  was  the  governor's  inten 
tion  of  sending  them  to  the  Koboe's  (Emperor's)  court,  in  the 
great  city  of  Jeddo,  to  leave  Nagasaki  in  a  palanquin  on  the 
following  morning. 

Paul  offered  no  objection  to  the  governor's  intention  ;  indeed, 
he  was  quite  as  willing  to  go  to  Jeddo  as  to  remain  at  Naga 
saki.  Titczing,  however,  very  much  preferred  that  the  youth 
ful  stranger  should  remain  in  her  father's  palace  ;  and  no  sooner 
had  the  captain  arid  Paul  retired  to  the  apartments  assigned 
them,  than  she  undertook  to  dissuade  the  governor  from  his 
purpose. 

"  Dear  father,"  said  she,  speaking  in  her  native  tongue;  "is 
it  true  that  you  have  determined  to  send  these  interesting 
strangers  to  the  court  of  the  great  Ziogun." 

"  Truly,  my  darling  Titczing,"  replied  her  father,  "I  have  so 
determined;  'and  wisely,  too,  for  by  the  golden  crane,  1  shall 
expect  new  honors  thereby." 

"And,  to-morrow,  must  they  take  their  departure?"  she 
asked. 

"  Aye  ;  truly  do  they  depart  on  the  first  gleaming  of  the  sun 
above  the  mountains,  attended  by  a  splendid  retinue,  which 
must  exalt  us  in  the  eyes  of  these  intelligent  strangers,  who  will 
carry  accounts  of  our  greatness  to  that  brave  nation  of  which 
we  have  heard  so  much  of  late." 

"  Father,  I  tremble  lest  the  great  Ziogun  be  angry  with  thee 
for  sending  these  strangers  to  him." 

"Nay,  my  daughter ;  his  imperial  majesty  has  signified  his 
desire  to  see  such  Americans  as  the  gods  may  decree  to  be  sent 


76  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  J    OR, 

to  our  shores.  Rather,  child,  might  I  tremble  did  I  not  send 
this  intelligent  captain  to  his  court." 

"  Then  you  will  not  send  his  young  companion  ?"  said  Titc- 
eing. 

"  Aye,  my  child,  T  had  so  purposed." 

"  The  Ziogun  will  be  satisfied  with  the  captain  and  his  singu 
lar  companion  ;  let  the  youth  remain  at  our  palace,"  ventured 
Titczing,  gazing  upon  the  floor. 

"  By  the  green  dragon  !  I  begin  to  suspect,  you  love  this 
youth !" 

"  Nay,  father." 

"I  believe  you.  Titczing  cannot  lie!  You  have  some  good 
motive  for  this  request  ?"  said  he,  gazing  intently  into  her  ingen 
uous  countenance. 

"  Aye  ;  truly  have  I." 

l<  Speak,  daughter,  that  I  may  say  the  young  stranger  shall 
yet  tarry  at  our  palace." 

"1  find  this  stranger  well  versed  in  English  literature;  you 
know  that  I  am  already  famed  as  a  linguist  ;  I  would  be  more 
worthy  of  that  name  ;  let  the  youth  remain,  that  I  may  make 
myself  mistress  of  his  language." 

"Titczing,  your  mot^e  is  a  noble  one,"  said  the  governor, 
embracing  his  child  ;  "  and  the  youth  may  remain." 

"  Thanks,  thanks,  my  kind  father,"  said  Titczing,  kissing  his 
cheek;  ''your  daughter  can  never  forget  your  kindness,  nor 
will  she  do  anything  that  becometh  not  a  maiden  and  a  prin 
cess." 

O,  Titczing  !  Titczing  !  what  a  weak,  silly  mortal  thou  art ! 
notwithstanding  all  thy  boasted  acquirements  and  virtues. 
Hadst  thou  one  cell  in  thy  brain,  uncontrolled  by  that  loving 
heart  of  thine,  thou  wouldst  see  how  grossly  thou  wast  deriv 
ing  thyself!  Beware,  Titczing!  lest  the  youthful  teacher  *hou 
hast  chosen  teach  thee  more  of  Cupid's  art  than  the  lanpuage 
thou  lovest  so  well ! 

Had  his  excellency  thus  cautioned  his  beloved  daughter  ere 
they  parted  for  the  night,  he  would,  perhaps,  have  done  wsely. 
But  we  shall  see. 

Titczing  dreamed  of  the  handsome  young  American  that 
night;  and  Paul  dreamed  of  one  afar  off — so  far,  indeed  that 
oceans  and  seas,  and  islands,  and  a  vast  continent  sep#~ated 
them! 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  77 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Arrival  of  Prince  Kublai-Keki — His  Errand — TJie  Pi  meet* 
not  to  be  won — Rage  of  the  great  rejected — A  conspiracy. 

GALA  days  are  said  to  be  more  frequent  in  Japan  than  in  any 
country,  either  civilized  or  barbarian,  on  the  face  of  the  earth. 
Besides  the  stated  religious  and  secular  holidays,  the  Japanese 
never  allow  any  extraordinary  event  to  occur  without  making 
it  in  some  manner  a  matter  of  public  demonstration  and  dis 
play.  Hence,  the  arrival  of  the  King  Philip  was  made  a  sub 
ject  of  general  interest  to  the  Nagasaiians ;  and  now  that  it 
was  known  throughout  the  city,  that  tflreir  governor,  Toki-tak;, 
would  send  the  American  prisoners,  as  they  were  called,  with  a 
splendid  escort,  to  the  Ziogun's  court  at  the  imperial  metropo 
lis  of  Jeddo,  on  the  following  day,  it  was,  of  course,  an  event 
not  to  be  passed  by  without  being  noticed  by  the  industrious 
but  pleasure-loving  people.  Accordingly,  at  an  early  hour,  the 
streets  contiguous  to  the  palace  were  thronged  with  thousands 
and  tens  of  thousands  of  men  and  boys,  while  from  verandahs, 
casements  and  house-tops,  were  to  be  seen  the  ladies,  attired  in 
their  most  showy  and  costly  robes. 

At  nine  o'clock,  the  governor's  grand  band  of  horns,  gongs, 
bells  and  cymbals,  announced  the  coming  of  the  pageant  from 
the  palace  grounds.  A  squadron  of  cavalry  led  the  van  ;  each 
cavalier  carrying  two  swords,  and  wearing  petticoat  trousers; 
none  beneath  the  regular  soldiery  being  permitted  thus  to  be 
doubly  armed  and  petticoat-breeched.  After  these  came  the 
persons  composing  an  official  embassy  to  the  Ziogun ;  then 
came  a  magnificently  decorated  palankeen,  borne  on  the  shoul 
ders  of  eight  men  of  stalwart  proportion,  in  which  were  seated 
our  friends,  Captain  Harold  and  Zabdiel  Stubbs,  the  latter  hav 
ing  recovered  from  the  effects  of  the  sackee  which  he  had  drunk 
on  the  previous  afternoon. 

But,  leaving  this  singular  cortege  to  pursue  its  slow  way  to 
wards  the  mightly  metropolis  of  Niphon,  we  must  turn  the 
reader's  attention  to  another  event  of  the  same  day,  which  crea- 


78  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  ',    OR, 

ted  additional  excitement  in  Nagasaki.  This  was  no  less  than 
the  arrival  of  Kublai-Keki,  a  powerful  vassal  prince,  attended 
by  a  numerous  retinue,  for  the  purpose  of  demanding  in  mar 
riage,  the  hand  ol  Titczing-Toki-taka,  the  learned  and  lovely 
daughter  of  Kiooisoo's  noble  governor. 

Keki  was  the  nineteenth  prince  who  had  come  to  Nagasaki 
upon  the  same  errand,  but  all  his  illustrious  predecessors  Titc- 
zing  had  rejected,  and  each  rejection  had  received  her  sire's 
approval.  The  new  suitor,  though  a  vassal  prince,  was  the  lord 
of  a  vast  territory,  and  could  summon  to  the  service  of  the  em 
peror,  forty  thousand  soldiers,  whenever  an  emergency  demand 
ed  a  levy  of  troops. 

Prince  Kublai  was,  therefore,  the  most  powerful  suitor  that 
Titczing  had  ever  been  honored  with  ;  and,  indeed,  he  came  to 
Nagasaki  fully  determined  to  carry  his  point,  whether  by  fair 
or  by  foul  means,  trusting  to  his  power  to  conciliate  the  empe 
ror,  should  the  governor  prefer  any  complaint  against  him,  in 
case  he  should  find  it  necessary  to  resort  to  force  to  accomplish 
his  unconquerable  desires. 

Passing  over  the  homage  paid  to  the  potent  prince  by  the 
multitude  in  the  streets,  at  the  palace  Kublai  was  received  with 
ull  the  display  and  fomnality  due  his  high  rank.  Once  in  the 
oalace,  his  impetuosity  to  obtain  the  lovely  prize  did  not  allow 
nim  to  wait  for  an  introduction  to  Titczing,  ere  he  made  known 
the  object  of  his  mission  to  her  father,  and  formally  demanded 
her  hand.  His  excellency  coolly  informed  him  that  he  had 
only  to  gain  Titczing's  consent,  and  then  the  day  and  the  hour 
of  the  nuptials  should  be  appointed. 

After  the  usual  mid- day  banquet  was  partaken  of,  the  lovely 
princess,  attended  by  her  virgins,  was  ushered  into  the  recep 
tion  room,  where  her  powerful  suitor  and  his  select  attendants, 
magnificently  appareled,  and  blazing  with  gold  and  lustrous 
gems,  awaited  her  appearance.  Titczing  was  attired  in  a  robe 
becoming  her  rank,  and  although  not  looking  so  beautifully  as 
we  have  seen  her  on  a  less  important  occasion,  yet  her  peerless 
loveliness  failed  not  to  carry  Captive  the  heart  of  Kublai-Khan. 

"  By  the  immaculate  Ten-sio-dai-sin !"  (Sun  Goddess,)  ex 
claimed  the  mighty  prince,  addressing  one  of-  his  near  atten 
dants,  on  beholding  Titczing;  "our  eyes  ne'er  beheld  such 
beauty.  Report  hath  described  her  appearance  but  imperfect 
ly.  Oh,  happy,  happy  prince  am  I !  that  she  hath  rejected 
eighteen  princes  who  hath  come  before  me  !" 

"Most  illustrious  Kublai,  thou  mayst  be  the  nineteenth/' 
suggested  Kin-zin-kon-jei,  his  secular  adviser,  or  prime  minister 

"  By  the   fire-dragon   of  Fudsi-Jammi !"   said    the   prince 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  79 

'didst  ever  know  Kublai-Keki  to  be  thwarted  in  a  purpose 
earnestly  avowed  ?" 

"  Nay,  most  illustrious." 

"  Did  we  not  avow  it  in  thy  presence,  that  this  most-famed 
beauty  of  the  empire,  should  grace  our  cortege  on  our  return 
to  Simonoseki  ?" 

"  Truly,  didst  thou,  great  prince ;  but  yet  she  may  refuse 
thee,  as  she  has  done  thy  princely  predecessors.  Her  will,  in 
the  bestowal  of  her  hand,  is  the  will  of  her  illustrious  sire." 

"  And  OUR  will,  Kin-zin-kon-jei,  is,  that  she  shall  be  Kublai- 
Keki's  bride  !"  said  the  prince  with  emphasis  ;  "  and  by  the  host 
of  demons  in  GOKUYA  !  (hell,)  there  is  not  power  sufficient  in 
all  Kioosoo,  to  thwart  the  purpose  nearest  Kublai's  heart.'' 

"  Behold,  great  prince,  the  governor  approaches,  to  lead  you 
to  the  beauteous  light  of  his  palace!"  said  Kin-zin-kon-jel 

"  That  light  which  shall  soon  illumine  mine,"  added  Kublai, 
in  a  subdued  tone. 

"My  daughter,  the  princess  Titczing,  is  in  waiting  to  be 
honored  with  an  introduction  to  so  illustrious  a  prince,"  said 
the  governor. 

"  We're  impatient  for  the  happy  moment,  your  excellency," 
said  Kublai,  taking  the  proffered  hand  of  his  illustrious  father-in- 
law,  as  the  prince  determined  he  should  become. 

With  an  air  of  overweening  dignity,  the  confident  prince 
approached  Titczing,  who  was  seated  upon  a  Hais,  and  was  in 
troduced.  She  rose  not  on  his  approach,  and  one  glance  from 
her  expressive  eyes,  completely  changed  his  arrogant  demeanor 
to  one  of  comparative  humility.  He  fell  upon  his  knees  before 
her,  and  said, — 

"  Beautiful  and  immaculate  princess  !  behold  at  thy  feet  one 
who  ne'er  knelt  before  mortal,  until  now,  save  to  the  mighty 
Ziogun!  One  who  is  more  potent  than  any  vassal  prince  of 
the  empire,  is  here  to  solicit  thy  hand  in  honorable  marriage  ; 
one  who  afar  off  hath  heard  of  thy  matchless  beauty,  thy  wis 
dom  and  learning,  and  thy  spotless  purity ;  but  who  never,  un 
til  now,  dared  even  imagine  th'at  so  perfect  a  being  dwelt  in 
our  land.  Speak,  peerless  princess,  and  make  happy  the  heart 
of  Kublai-Keki !" 

"  Rise,  Prince  !"  said  Titczing,  modestly,  "  thou  hast  learned 
well  the  flatterer's  art.  At  this  hour,  to-morrow,  my  decision 
in  regard  to  the  high  honor  you  intend  me,  shall  be  made  known 
to  thee.  If  in  thee,  my  lord,  I  find  that  noble  quality,  which  I 
have  failed  to  discover  in  eighteen  princely  suitors  for  my  hand, 
then  I  shall  bestow  on  thee  what  I  refused  to  them." 

"  And  what  is  that  great  virtue  essential  to  complete  my  hap 
piness,  charming  princess  ?"  asked  Kublai. 


80  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  ;    OR, 

"Ah!  thou  wilt  assume  it  if  thou  hast  it  not,  should  I  re- 
veal  it,"  said  Titczing,  archly.  "  If  I  do  not  prove  to  thee  on 
the  morrow  that  thou  art  deficient  in  the  indispensable  quality, 
then,  by  the  purity  of  Ten-sio-dai-sin,  this  hand  shall  be  thine. 
Till  then,  the  gods  be  with  thee." 

Uttering  these  words,  the  princess  and  her  attendants  with 
drew. 

Kublai-Keki  was  exceedingly  puzzled.  He  called  Kin-sin- 
jon-jei,  with  the  hope  of  obtaining  through  him  the  key  to  this 
little  mystery,  and  told  him  all  that  the  lady  had  said. 

"Great  prince!"  said  his  adviser,  who  ever  spoke  boldly  and 
frankly ;  *'  thou  hast  many  faults  and  but  few  virtues.  This  I 
have  told  thee  often." 

"  Thou  hast,  indeed  ;  and  we  have  as  often  pardoned  thy  in 
solent  tongue.  We  cannot  brook  such  plain  speech  longer." 

*'  So  long  as  Kin-zin-kon-jei  is  thy  adviser,  thou  wilt  hear 
nought  but  trijth  from  his  lips." 

"  Thou  provokest  me !"  said  the  prince,  in  anger. 

"  He  that  cannot  bear  to  hear  the  truth  spoken,  hat'i  lack  <5f 
many  virtues !" 

"  Now,  by  the  fiery  dragon  !  thou  addest  insult  to  injury!" 

"Call  it  what  thou  wilt,  mighty  prir.ce  ;  but  when  thou.  ait 
not  in  choler,  thou'lt  thank  me  for  my  frankness." 

"  Dost  say  Kublai  is  now  in  choler  ?" 

"  Never  did  the  mountain  tiger  seemed  more  enraged  !" 

"  And  never  did  the  ferocious  beast  more  readily  revenge  a 
wrong,  than  doth  Kublai  Keki !"  exclaimed  the  choleric  man, 
drawing  a  keen  Japanese  blade,  and  with  one  blow  he  struck 
off  the  head  of  Kin-zin-kon-jei! 

"  Remove  this  bloody  carcass  from  my  sight !"  said  he,  to  hie 
vassals;  "the  presumptive  knave  hath  no  more  than  his  just 
deserts." 

Death,  by  the  hands  of  a  prince,  is  of  so  frequent  occurrence 
in  this  strangely  governed  country,  that  it  is  hardly  held  as  a 
crime ;  indeed,  inferiors  regard  it  as  an  honor  to  be  thus  de 
prived  of  life  ;  besides,  it  saves  them  from  ripping  their  own 
bowels  open,  (the  only  mode  of  committing  suicide  in  Japan,) 
which  they  Jeel  themselves  in  honor  bound  to  do  whenever  held 
in  disgrace  by  their  superiors.  Had  a  subject  committed  the 
great  crime  of  murder,  the  severest  penalty  of  the  law  would 
have  been  inflicted  upon  him. 

The  death  of  Kin-zin-kon-jei,  was,  therefore,  an  event  of  lit 
tle  or  no  moment,  and  in  an  hour  or  two,  ceased  to  be  a  sub 
ject  of  conversation  or  regret,  even  among  the  followers  of  the 
prince. 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  81 

Twenty-four  hours,  precisely,  subsequent  to  the  first  meeting 
of  the  Prince  Kublai-Keki  and  the  Princess  Titczmg-Toki-laka, 
they  again  met  in  presence  of  the  governor's  and  prince's  re 
tainers,  to  hear  the  decision  of  the  immaculate  virgin  of  Na 
gasaki. 

"  Mighty  prince  !"  said  Titczing,  "  where  is  Kin-zin-kon-kie, 
thy  truthful  adviser?" 

"  With  this  sword  we  slew  him,"  answered  Kublai-Keki. 

"  Why  didst  thou  take  his  lite  ?'' 

"  He  provoked  me  to  anger  ?" 

"  But  thou  shouldst  have  suppressed  it." 

"  Charming  princess,  'tis  not  in  Kublai's  nature." 

"Then  Kublai,  who  governs  a  hostv  cannot  govern  himself. 
This  noble  quality  thou  lackest,  according  to  thine  own  confes 
sion.  Go  thy  way,  Prince — Titczing  declines  the  great  honor 
you  would  confer  upon  her  !" 

The  prince's  eyes  flashed  fire,  and  his  lips  quivered  with 
rage,  while  his  attendants  marvelled  that  their  mighty  lord  should 
be  rejected.  Kublai  strove  to  conceal  the  passion  which  fired 
his  very  soul,  and  af  length  essayed  to  speak. 

For  so  slight  an  imperfection  dost  thou  scorn  the  most  pow 
erful  vassal  lord  of  the  empire  ?" 

"  Ay  •.  if  thou  wert  the  mighty  Ziogun  himself,  thou  coulds? 
have  no  otner  answer,"  said  the  princess.  "  That  which  thou 
regardest  lightly,  however,  weighs  heavily  in  my  eyes.  Be 
sides  the  lack  of  the  self-governing  principle,  thou  lackest  mer 
cy  ;  the  life  of  him  thou  hast  slain  wast  as  dear  to  him  as  thine 
is  to  thee." 

But  he  died  by  my  princely  arm  ;  in  that  he  was  honored." 

*'  Fy  on  such  philosophy  !"  returned  Titczing.  "  Is  the  fox 
less  dead,  killed  by  the  treacherous  leopard,  than  by  the  kingly 
lion  ?  Go  thy  way,  prince  ;  learn  wisdom,  then  thou'lt  be  just 
and  merciful !" 

The  princess  hereupon  rose,  saluted  Kublai-Keki,  and  retired 
with  her  attendants. 

The  rage  of  the  prince  knew  no  bounds,  and  he  meditated 
all  sorts  of  revenge  for  the  rebuke  which  he  had  received  from 
a  woman.  That  night,  in  a  secluded  part  of  the  palace  gar 
den,  he  met  some  three  or  four  of  his  most  trusty  attendants, 
and  there  concocted  the  villanous  plan  of  abusing  the  hospital 
ity  of  the  governor,  by  stealing  his  daughter  while  slumbering, 
and  conveying  her  away.  It  was  agreed  that  it  should  be  car 
ried  into  execution  one  hour  past  midnight,  and  they  immedi 
ately  set  about  devising  the  best  means  for  effecting  their  pur 
pose,  without  immediate  discovery  and  consequent  pursuit. 

6 


08  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  J    O», 

The  vile  plot  was  partially  discovered  to  one  not  concerned 
in  it.  Paul  Payson,  suspecting  evil  designs,  had  watched  the 
conspirators,  and  although  he  could  judge  of  what  they  intend 
ed  only  by  their  menacing  manner  of  speaking  and  violent  ges 
tures,  yet  he  forthwith  set  his  w  ts  at  work  to  frustrate  the  per 
petration  of  any  villany. 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  Abduction — The  Pursuit — The  Rescue — Death  of  tke 
Tiger — Paul  in  a  Dilemma — The  Villain,  Kublai,  exposed! 
Wonders  will  never  cease. 

THE  Princess  Titzcing,  not  dreaming  that  any  danger 
threatened  her,  had  already  retired  for  repose,  consequently  our 
hero,  Paul,  had  no  means  of  communicating  with  her ;  her 
father,  too,  had  retired  for  the  night,  and  as  that  part  of  the 
palace,  where  the  governor's  family  slept,  was  strictly  guarded 
irom  intrusion,  there  was  no  possibility  of  gaining  access  to  it, 
unless  by  corrupting  the  sentinels  or  overpowering  them. 

The  former  means  had  already  been  resorted  to  by  a  pam 
pered  underling  of  Kublai-Keki ;  he  had  sounded  each  one  of 
them  by  the  tempting  offer  of  a  purse  of  gold,  without  in  any 
manner  revealing  the  plot ;  but  the  bnoe  was  spurned  by  them 
all ;  too  well  the  soldiers  loved  the  brave  and  magnanimous 
Toki-taka,  and  they  would  rather  have  died  in  his  cause  than 
betray  him. 

Force  being  the  only  alternative  to  gain  access  to  the  loving 
Titczing's  apartment.  Kublai  selected  from  among  his  followers, 
ten  of  the  most  unscrupulous  villains  known  in  his  principality. 
These  were  directed  to  butcher  the  sentinels,  enter  the  Prin 
cess's  apartment  and  secure  the  lovely  prize,  while  some  half 
dozen  more,  with  horses  ready  saddled  and  bridled,  should  re 
main  in  waiting  to  receive  the  precious  burden,  near  the  outer 
gate  of  the  palace  grounds.  As  it  was  previously  given  out 
that  Kublai  would  despatch  a  courier  to  Simoneseki  that  night, 
of  course  in  these  latter  preparations  nothing  of  a  treacherous 
or  hostile  character  was  suspected. 

The  night  was  quite  dark,  and  the  lamps  of  the  palace  gar 
dens  having  been  extinguished,  the  party  of  assassins  were  en 
abled  to  approach  quite  near  the  sentinels,  and  conceal  them 
selves  until  the  concerted  signal,  when  each  man  was  to  select 
his  victim,  pounce  upon  him,  and  at  once  despatch  him. 

Paul,  of  course,  could  know  nothing  of  the  -details  of  the 


34  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  J    OR, 

business  to  be  accomplished  ;  but,  having  a  Yankee's  shrewd 
ness,  and  a  keen  pair  of  eyes  to  watch  the  movements  of  the 
conspirators,  he  could  "  guess"  their  intentions  pretty  correctly. 
He  saw  that  they  bore  no  fire-arms,  but,  instead,  were  armed 
with  heavy  scimetars,  whose  keen  edges  he  knew  would  sever 
the  head  from  the  trunk  at  a  blow.  Hence  he  inferred  that 
they  meant  to  do  their  murderous  work  without  ci-eating  an 
alarm:  But  he  resolved,  if  possible,  that  an  alarm  should  be  given, 
a-nd  at  the  moment  when  his  desperate  intentions  might  be  of 
most  avail.  Gladly  would  he  have  put  the  sentinels  on  guard 
against  the  suspected  outrages  meditated,  but  he  could  speak 
scarcely  a  word  of  the  Japanese  language,  and  well  he  knew 
if  he  attempted  to  approach  the  sentinels,  he  would  but  endan 
ger  his  own  life.  Therefore,  he  deemed  it  wise  to  act  only  as 
emergencies  arose,  and  hope  for  a  favorable  result. 

By  the  movements  of  the  assassins,  which  he  was  just  able 
to  discern  from  a  concealed  position  that  he  had  chosen,  he  sup 
posed  that  the  critical  moment  was  near  at  hand.  All  was  still 
throughout  the  palace  gardens,  save  the  sweet,  warbling  notes 
of  the  nightingales  in  the  governor's  aviary,  and  the  soft  rust 
ling  of  the  breeze  which  blew  gently  from  the  harbor.  A  single, 
tinkling  note  from  the  clock  of  the  temple  just  beyond  the 
palace  walls,  announced  the  hour  of  one.  A  lapse  of  five 
minutes,  and  a  blazing  rocket  streamed  across  the  city,  so  bril 
liant,  that  for  a  moment  it  illuminated  the  spires  of  the  temples 
in  its  path;  and  while  the  sentries  upon  duty  turned  to  gaze 
upon  it,  the  desperadoes  of  Kublai-Keki  rushed  upon  them  with 
naked  sabres,  and  commenced  the  brutal  massacre  !  The  sharp 
crack  of  a  pistol,  from  an  unknown  source,  startled  the  ruffians, 
a»d  one  of  them  fell  beside  the  headless  trunk  of  him  he  had 
just  decapitated  !  The  poor  sentinel  was  thus  most  summarily 
avenged !  Another,  and  another,  and  a  third  shot  was  fired,  in 
quick  succession,  and  apparently  from  different  sources,  and  at 
each  fire  an  assassin  fell ! 

The  alarm  first  reached  Kublai's  ears,  and  he  ordered  a  score 
or  more  to  the  assistance  of  their  comrades ;  but  ere  they  ar 
rived,  the  whole  palace  was  in  a  state  of  most  indescribable 
confusion ;  and  what  most  added  to  the  consternation  was, 
that  none  within  knew  the  cause. 

Some  of  the  prince's  myrmidons  had  gained  entrance  to  the 
private  apartments  of  the  palace,  and,  in  despite  of  the  scream 
ing  of  women,  and  the  opposition  of  the  governor's  soldiers, 
who  came ,  to  the  rescue  of  their  noble  master,  they  seized 
the  Princess  Titczing,  and  bore  her  from  her  apartment  into 
the  palace  grounds,  before  the  true  intent  of  the  villains  was 
discovered 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  85 

The  old  Governor  rushed  forth  in  his  'night  clothes,  be 
wailing  the  loss  of  his  daughter,  and  offering  immense  rewards 
to  those  who  would  rescue  her  from  the  villains!  He  or 
dered  out  his  troop  of  cavalry,  but  ere  the  horses  could  be 
saddled  and  bridled,  and  the  men  mounted,  Titczing  was  in 
the  hands  of  a  stout  cavalier,  mounted  upon  a  fleet  charger, 
and  escorted  by  three  other  horsemen,  galloping  away  as  fast  as 
possible  from  the  city  of  Nagasaki! 

As  soon  as  the  governor's  troops  were  despatched,  a  coun 
cil  of  his  attendants  were  immediately  called  ;  and  no  sooner 
were  they  assembled,  than  Prince  Kublai,  himself,  rushed  un 
ceremoniously  into  their  presence,  and  with  looks  of  apprehen 
sion,  and  almost  breathless  speech,  thus  addressed  the  man 
whom  he  had  so  foully  wronged,  while  a  guest  beneath  his 
roof: 

"Is  it  true,  your  excellency,  that  the  beauteous  flower  of 
thy  palace  hath  been  stolen  from  thee?" 

"  Ay,  great  Prince  ;  'tis  too  true,"  answered  Tokirtaka,  with 
a  sigh.  "  The  light  of  my  life,  my  sweet  blossom,  the  pearl  of 
my  palace,  is  no  longer  here  to  make  blessed  my  heart." 

"  Kublai-Keki  condoles  with  thee,,  from  the  depths  of  his 
soul ;  and  never  shall  he  be  at  rest  until  the  great  wrong  be 
avenged  !  Already  are  his  cavaliers  flying  with  the  speed  of 
the  wind  in  pursuit  of  the  daring  robbers." 

"  Thanks,  prince,  for  thy  condolence,  and  for  thy  assistance," 
said  the  bereaved  father,  who  entertained  not  a  suspicion  that 
the  famed  Kublai-Keki  was  the  cause  of  his  present  misery. 
"  Shouldst  thy  cavaliers,  prince,  have  the  good  fortune  to  res 
cue  my  darling  Titczing,  it  may  be  that  her  grateful  heart  will 
reverse  her  decision  of  yesterday,  and  confide  ever  after  in 
thee." 

"Oh,  joy!  oh,  happiness!"  exclaimed  the  princely  villain; 
"we  shall  make  large  offerings  to  the  god&  for  their  success, 
ere  the  sun  again  illumines  our  empire.  Does  not  thou,  excel 
lency,  suspect  those  who  have  thus  dared  to  commit  this  mon 
strous  offence?" 

"  Nay,  my  lord." 

"  By  the  dragon  of  Fudsi  Jamma !  a  suspicion  flashes  upon 
our  mind  !" 

"  Speak,  great  prince  ?" 

"  Thou  hast,  I  am  told,  entertained  a  stranger  from  a  fa:-off 
country,  in  thy  palace  ?" 

"  Ay,  truly." 

"  And  hast  permitted  him  tc  have  audience  of  the  princess  ?" 

"  Thou  hast  heard  aright ;  but,  great  Kublai,  he's  a  youth, 
and  harmless  as  Titczing  herself;  besides,  the  wretch  who  hath 


86  YANKEES    IX    JAPAN  J     OR, 

t 

stolen  the  light  of  mine  eyes,  hath  confederates.  This  strar> 
boy  can  have  none,  for  he  cannot  speak  even  a  word  of  the 
wonderful  language  which  the  gods  have  decreed  to  our  favored 
people.  No,  Kublai,  he  hath  no  hand  in  this  matter." 

"  Thou'rt  rich  in  wisdom,  but  thine  eyes  are  blinded,"  sair 
the  prince.  "  This  youth  is  one  of  that  race  of  people  in  North 
America,  of  whom  we  have  heard  so  much  of  late.  They  have 
cunning  surpassing  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  ;  from  gokuya's 
(hell's)  ministers  they  have  learned  the  art  of  making  fire-boats 
which  travel  over  the  seas  faster  than  the  mighty  serpent  of 
the  Corean  Archipelago :  they  have  carriages,  too,  that  are 
drawn  over  the  earth  by  enormous  fire-dragons,  whose  hisses 
and  screams  are  heard  many  leagues,  and  whose  speed  are 
swifter  than  the  condor's  fligl  t.  They  catch  the  lightning's 
flash,  and  make  it  subservient  to  their  will ;  ay,  even  on  its 
wings  do  they  communicate  one  to  another,  though  an  hundred 
t  leagues  apart.  They  fly  in  the  air ;  walk  down  under  the  sea  ; 
and  extinguish  fire  without  water.  They  make  tunnels  through 
mountains,  and  under  rivers  and  cities ;  level  the  hills  with  the 
plains,  and  spam  wire  bridges  over  mighty  cataracts. — They 
have  discovered  a  medicine,  far  more  potent  than  the  blessed 
DOSIA  powders  our  gods  have  bestowed  upon  us  ;  this  medicine 
is  breathed  into  the  nostrils,  and  the  most  violent  pain  ceases. 
In  truth,  excellency,  they  are  wonderful  and  a  wicked  people, 
for,  instead  of  receiving  their  arts  from  the  gods  as  we  do,  they 
borrow  them  from  the  fiends  of  gokuya !  Much  more  could 
Kublai  tell  thee  of  this  nation  of  jugglers,  but  he  hath  said 
enough  to  show  that  much  is  to  be  feared  even  from  the  youth 
thou  harborest  in  thy  palace." 

"  Great  Kublai,"  said  the  governor ;  "  I  know  all  thou  hast 
told  me,  and  much  more.  Through  my  daughter,  who  hath 
acquired  the  language  of  this  people,  I  know  that  all  their  dis 
coveries  are  based  upon  the  true  scientific  principles.  It  is  to 
the  cunning  of  their  intellects  that  they  owe  the  discovery  of 
these  wonderful  things;  and  not  by  invoking  gokuya's  demons. 
But.  prince,  I  have  no  heart  to  speak  of  this  people  or  their  arts 
now ;  at  a  future  time  I  will  converse  with  thee  further  upon 
this  topic." 

"  But  let  us  beseech  thee  to  bring  the  boy  American  before 
this  counsel,  that  he  may  be  questioned  ;  and  if  thou  findest 
that  he  hath  not  taken  a  part  in  the  abduction  of  the  princess, 
then  is  Kublai-Keki  no  prophet !" 

*  But,  prince,  now  that  Titczing  is  gone,  we  cannot  commu 
nicate  with  him,"  replied  Toki-Taka ;  "  when  morning  breaki 
I  can  send  to  the  Dutch  islet,  for  the  European  interpreter." 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  87 

"There  is  no  time  to  be  lost,"  said  the  prince  ;  "let  him  be 
brought  before  thee  ;  his  very  looks  may  betray  his  guilt." 

The  governor  at  length  yielded  to  Kublai's  persuasions,  and 
a  couple  of  servants  were  sent  to  the  apartment  occupied  by 
oar  hero,  Paul,  to  summon  him  to  the  chief  hall  of  the  palace. 

A  few  minutes  elapsed,  and  the  servants  returned  with  the 
startling  information  that  he  was  not  to  be  found. 

"  He's  escaped  !"  cried  Kublai.  "  Dost  not  this  act  fasten 
suspicion  upon  him  ?" 

The  governor  was  thunderstruck. 

"  By  the  demon  of  Sulphur  Island!  I'll  send  all  the  Tartarean 
hosts  after  him  !"  he  cried,  his  grief  giving  way  to  anger.  "  A 
thousand  bars  of  gold  to  him  who  will  apprehend  him  and  prove 
his  guilt !  Ah  !  now  do  I  see  my  imprudence  in  allowing  the 
princess  to  converse  with  the  American ;  and  I  do  begin  to 
suspect  that  with  his  arts  he  hath  fascinated  my  daughter,  and 
that  she  hath  consented  to  be  stolen  away.  Send  a  thousand 
armed  barges  to  the  strange  ship  anchored  near  Papenberg ' 
let  her  be  boarded  and  searched !" 

This  order  was  hastily  despatched  to  the  commander  of  the 
harbor  flotilla,  who,  by  the  break  of  day,  was  moving  down  the 
harbor  for  the  purpose  of  boarding  the  harmless  old  whaler,  the 
King  Philip ! 

Meanwhile  these  proceedings,  from  the  time  of  the  abduc 
tion  to  the  moving  of  the  flotilla,  were  transpiring,  let  us  look 
after  Paul  Payson,  and  see  what  part  he  is  playing  in  this  noc 
turnal  drama  in  Japan. 

Paul,  on  perceiving  that  the  first  detachment  of  desperadoes 
were  to  be  backed  up  by  an  indefinite  number,  he  quitted  his 
place  of  concealment,  where  he  had  been  flitting  like  an  ignis- 
fatuus,  from  one  clump  of  bushes  to  another,  discharging  his 
deadly  revolver  at  the  ruffians.  He  had  accomplished  one  of 
his  purposes,  that  of  alarming  the  household,  which  he  supposed 
must  be  the  means  of  defeating  the  end  and  aim  of  the  Prince 
Kublai ;  but  in  this  he  was  mistaken,  for  he  had  no  sooner 
emerged  from  his  hiding-place,  and  crossed  the  main  path  to 
enter  the  palace,  than  he  heard  the  stifled  shrieks  of  a  female, 
and  in  a  moment  more  he  beheld  two  of  the  ruffians,  one  of 
whom  bore  in  his  arms,  as  Paul  supposed,  the  princess,  in  whose 
defence  he  resolved  to  risk  his  life.  He  followed  after  them 
with  all  the  haste  he  could  make,  without  being  discovered, 
until  they  stopped  near  the  outer  wall,  where  stood  a  noble 
charger,  richly  caparisoned. — Under  the  shade  of  a  cypress 
tree  he  was  enabled  to  perceive  that  one  of  the  abductors  was 
partially  clad  in  armor,  and  wore  by  his  side  a  sabre ;  he  saw 
him  mount  the  steed,  while  the  other,  who  bore  the  princess 


88  YANKEES.  IN    JAPAN  \    OR, 

forced  her  into  the  mail-clad  cavalier's  arms.  A  single  note 
from  a  signal  horn  was  now  sounded,  and  three  other  cavaliers 
rejoined  the  one  with  the  lady,  and  they  all  galloped  out  of  the 
outer  gate  of  the  palace,  which  had  been  purposely  opened  fe>r 
their  egress,  by  one  of  Kublai's  party. 

As  soon  as  they  had  rode  away,  he  who  had  borne  Titczing 
from  the  palace,  hastened  towards  an  angle  of  the  wall,  where 
a  fleet  horse  was  standing.  He  leaped  into  the  saddle,  and  was 
galloping:  on  to  overtake  his  comrades,  when  Paul  suddenly 
darted  into  his  path,  seized  the  bridle,  and  discharged  his 
never-failing  revolver  at  the  head  of  the  rider !  He  reeled  in 
his  saddle,  and  fell  to  the  earth  !  In  another  moment,  Paul 
had  mounted  the  high-mettled  steed,  and  started  off  in  full 
speed  on  the  track  of  the  abductors ! 

For  nearly  an  hour  did  the  pursued  party  dash  on  at  full 
speed  ;  but  coming  to  a  deep  ravine,  in  a  wild  spot,  they 
slackened  their  pace,  in  order  to  give  their  panting  steeds  an 
opportunity  to  breathe  freely,  and  to  allow  their  supposed  com 
rade,  whose  horse's  feet  they  distinctly  heard,  to  come  up  with 
them.  Paul  reached  the  brow  of  the  hill,  and  beheld  the  party 
He  was  in  pursuit  of  at  the  bottom  of  the  ravine,  where  a 
stream  of  water  flowed  across  the  road.  He  drew  his  rein,  and 
permitted  the  horse  to  walk  leisurely  down  the  hill,  in  order 
that  he  might  scrutinize  them,  and  deliberate  as  to  the  best 
mode  of  making  his  attack.  It  was  a  desperate  resolve  he  had 
made,  to  rescue  the  princess  or  die  in  the  attempt !  and  now  he 
felt,  for  the  first  time,  how  great  were  the  odds  against  him ! 

He  saw  that  the  cavalier,  who  bore  the  princess  on  his  saddle, 
was  a  few  paces  in  advance,  while  his  three  companions  in  the 
rear  rode  in  a  line.  Paul  rode  up  behind  within  eight  or  ten 
paces,  when  one  of  them  turned  and  accosted  him  in  a  tone  of 
familiarity. 

Crack !  went  the  pistol,  and  he  who  had  spoken,  quickly  bit 
the  dust ! 

"  Treason  !  treason  !"  cried  his  startled  companions,  who  in 
stantly  turned  upon  him,  and  who,  until  now,  they  thought  to 
be  Foukieymun,  one  of  the  boldest  of  the  prince's  assassins. 

Another  flash  and  sharp  report  from  the  revolver,  caused  a 
second  to  fall.  The  third  had  time  to  draw  his  scimetar,  and 
spur  his  steed  towards  the  unknown,  the  effects  of  whose  deadly 
weapon,  he  had  before  witnessed  that  night.  The  cavalier 
raised  his  arm  to  strike  off  the  head  of  this  boy,  man  or  devil 
— which  he  knew  not!  Crack! — crack!  went  a  pair  of  the 
barrels,  and  he,  too,  was  laid  low  in  the  dust ! 

Perceiving  that  his  comrades  had  fallen,  almost  unaccount 
ably,  the  stout  cavalier,  who  held  the  princess  in  his  saddle. 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF     \    SAILJR    BOY.  89 

Gtruck  his  rowels  deep  into  the  flanks  of  his  horse,  and  galloped 
off  at  full  speed;  but  the  deadly  pursuer  was  after  him.  The 
chase  continued  for  upwards  of  a  mile  ;  when  the  horse  of  the 
cavalier  began  to  slacken  his  pace,  for  without  the  princess, 
tiie  animal  would  have  been  sufficiently  burdened.  Finding 
escape  impossible,  the  cavalier  turned  upon  his  pursuer,  and 
drew  his  long,  keen-edged  sabre,  with  the  almost  forlorn  hope 
of  annihilating  so  formidable  a  foe. 

Paul  rushed  up  boldly,  and  seized  the  bridle  rein  of  the  des 
perado  with  his  left  hand,  while  in  the  right  he  held  firmly  his 
trusty  weapon  ;  and  as  the  sabre's  blow  was  about  vo  fall  upon 
him,  he  discharged  the  revolver  full  in  the  face  of  his  antag 
onist.  The  cavalier  fell  heavily  to  the  earth,  bearing  with  him 
(.he  now  unconscious  Titczing. 

Paul  lifted  her  from  out  the  foul  arms  of  the  dying  cavalier, 
and  by  tasking  -all  his  strength,  he  succeeded  in  placing  the 
princess  upon  the  steed  he  had  himself  ridden,  and  vaulting  into 
the  saddle  himself,  he  began  slowly  to  retrace  his  steps,  leading 
the  dead  cavalier's  horse  by  the  bridle.  In  the  course  of  half 
an  hour  he  reached  the  ravine,  when,  hearing  the  tramp  of 
many  steeds  in  the  distance,  he  left  the  road  and  entered  a 
thick  grove  of  cypress  trees,  and  alighted,  with  his  beautiful 
burden,  beside  the  pellucid  brook.  Titczing  had  partially  re 
covered  from  the  swoon  into  which  she  had  been  thrown  by 
fear  and  fatigue,  still  she  was  unconscious,  and  too  feeble  to  sit 
or  stand.  He  laid  her  down  upon  the  soft  mossy  bank,  and 
with  his  hands  he  laved  her  temples  with  the  cool  water  from 
the  stream.  He  then  cut  a  strip  of  bark  from  a  sapling  cypress, 
and  fashioned  it  into  a  cup,  and  filling  it  with  water,  he  gently 
raised  the  fair  one's  head,  arid  poured  a  few  drops  of  the  revivi 
fying  element  between  her  lips. 

While  performing  this  kind  office,  the  troop  of  horsem*  n  was 
descending  into  the  ravine,  and  the  neighing  of  their  steeds, 
caused  his  jaded  animals  to  prick  up  their  ears,  and  lest  they 
should  gallop  away,  Paul  leaped  to  his  feet,  caught  them  by  the 
bridle,  and  secured  them  to  the  limbs  of  a  tree. 

It  was  now  day-break,  and  objects  could  be  discerned  even 
in  that  deeply-shaded  ravine.  Leaving  his  precious  charge, 
he  crept  cautiously  towards  the  road,  for  the  purpose  of  scruti 
nizing  closely  the  troop,  and  concealed  himself  behind  the  thick 
foliage  which  bordered  the  pass.  As  soon  as  the  van  of  the 
troop  had  arrived  at  the  scene  of  Paul's  desperate  conflict,  the 
column  halted,  "and  dismounted,  they  having  discovered  the 
three  dead  cavaliers.  When  they  found  they  were  their  own 
companions,  volleys  of  oaths  and  imprecations  fell  from  their 
lips.  Exhausting  the  Japanese  vocabulary  of  profanity,  they 


90  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  J     OR, 

set  up  r  mournful  howl,  compared  to  which  the  war-whoop  of 
the  American  aboriginals  would  have  been  pleasant  to  the  ears 
of  our  hero.  The  dead  bodies  were  then  taken  up  and  lashed 
across  the  backs  of  horses,  the  cavaliers  -mounting  before. 
The  troop  then  mov  >d  on,  and  after  the  lapse  ol  fifteen  minutes, 
the  neighing  of  horses  and  their  heavy  tramp,  could  no  longer 
be  heard  by  Paul,  who  had  returned  to  his  charge,  and  suc 
ceeded  in  restoring  her  to  a  partial  state  of  consciousness.  Her 
first  exclamations  were  in  her  own  language ;  but  looking 
steadily  for  a  few  moments  into  her  preserver's  face,  she  smiled 
sweetly,  and  essayed  to  sp^ak  in  English.  She  uttered  a  few 
words  of  thankfulness,  and  soon  fell  into  a  profound  slumber, 
her  head  reclining  on  the  breast  of  the  heroic  youth. 

For  four  hours  did  }Nul  watch  over  the  maiden  he  had  so 
many  times  perilled  his  life  to  save.  And  while  performing 
this  voluntary  duty,  he  had  time  to  recur  to  his  eventful  career, 
since  the  moonlight  night  he  stood  beneath  the  shade  of  a  grove 
of  oaks  in  his  own  native  land,  and  by  him  stood  a  loved  and 
beautiful  being  of  a  far  different  race,  to  that  of  the  fair  crea 
ture  now  sleeping,  as  if  in  perfect  security,  upon  his  bosom.  In 
his  memory,  he  traced  almost  every  step  from  that  hour — what 
misery  he  had  seen,  what  dangers  he  had  passed,  and  con 
trasted  them  with  the  novel  and  romantic  situation  he  was  then 
placed  in ;  and  while  he  endeavored  to  penetrate  the  veil  of  the 
future,  he  was  startled  by  a  deep  growl,  which  caused  him  to 
leap  to  his  feet.  The  maiden  awoke  at  the  same  moment, 
looking  wildly  about  her  as  if  in  apprehension  of  impending 
danger.  The  awful  sound  was  heard  again,  and  the  maiden, 
breathlessly  shrieked — 

"  The  tig>r!  the  tiger!" 

Paul's  revolver  was  out  in  an  instant.  The  animal,  though 
not  yet  visible,  was  evidently  near.  He  advanced  a  few  steps, 
when  he  beheld  the  glaring  eyes  of  the  ferocious  beast,  within 
r  distance  of  eight  yards,  his  body  partially  concealed  by  the 
thick  foliage.  He  crouched  as  if  to  make  a  spring.  Paul  fired, 
and  a  hideous  roar  made  the  welkin  ring.  The  beast  was  badly 
wounded,  the  shot  having  entered  the  ball  of  the  eye,  and  foi 
a  moment  paralyzed  him.  Enraged  to  an  inconceivable  fury, 
he  leaped  towards  our  hero,  but  ere  the  beast's  body  struck  the 
earth,  another  shot  entered  his  head.  The  tiger  came  flounder 
ing  down  upon  his  side ;  but  quickly  regained  his  feet.  Paul, 
perceiving  there  was  yet  much  danger  in  his  antagonist,  took 
a  deliberate  aim,  and  the  ball  entered  the  remaining  eye,  thus 
completely  blinding  him.  The  animal  writhed  and  howled  in 
the  agonies  of  death.  One  shot  more  and  the  formidable-look 
ing  monster  was  silenced,  and  lay  stretched  out  before  him ! 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTUHES    OF    A    SAILOB.    BOY.  91 

"  To  horse !"  said  our  hero  to  Titczing ;  "  we  must  away,  lesl 
there  be  more  beasts  to  encounter !" 

He  assisted  the  trembling  princes  to  mount  one  of  the  horses, 
and  then  mounting  the  other,  was  ready  to  hasten  on  towards 
Nagasaki,  to  turn  the  household  of  the  governor  from  grief  into 
joy.  Titczing  touched  his  arm,  and  pointed  towards  the  wild 
beast  he  had  slain,  as  if  the  idea  occurred  to  her  that  he  had 
forgotten  to  take  his  game. 

"  'Tis  worth  nothing,"  said  he. 

"  Nothing  !"  she  repeated,  with  manifest  surprise  ;  "  the  hun 
ter  that  kills  the  great  tiger  is  made  noble,  princely,  by  the 
Ziogun !" 

"  But  I  am  a  stranger  ;  and  in  a  few  days  I  must  sail  for  mv 
aative  land  ;  therefore,  princely  honors  will  avail  me  nothing,"*' 
answered  Paul. 

The  princess's  countenance  underwent  a  slight  change  at 
this  sincere  declaration  of  her  preserver. 

"  Me  sorry,"  said  she,  after  a  pause ;  "  but  me  advise  you  to 
carry  the  tiger  to  rny  father's  palace — much  good  will  it  do 
you." 

Finding  that  his  companion  was  really  serious  in  her  advice, 
he  again  dismounted,  and  lifting  the  body  of  the  heavy  beast 
in  his  arms,  he  managed  to  place  it  across  the  horse's  back  just 
behind  the  saddle,  to  which  he  lashed  it.  It  was  an  awkward 
looking  load,  but  Titczing  appearing  much  pleased,  he  thought 
it  best  to  humor  what  our  hero  considered  exceedingly  bad 
taste — that  of  riding  into  a  thickly  populated  city,  at  mid-day, 
with  a  dead  tiger  behind  him,  and  a  princess  for  a  companion! 

They  proceeded  on  at  a  slow  pace,  and  when  within  a  mile 
or  two  of  Nagasaki,  they  began  to  meet  squads  of  people,  who 
stared  with  wondering  eyes  at  the  unusual  spectacle.  The 
avenue  leading  to  the  palace  being  the  most  frequented  of  any 
in  the  city,  Paul,  wishing  to  avoid  the  public  gaze  as  far  as  pos- 
-  sible,  proposed  to  Titczing  to  take  a  less  frequented  route  to 
her  home  ;  but  for  some  reason  or  other,  which  he  could  not 
comprehend,  she  very  good-naturedly  opposed  the  suggestion, 
and  they  continued  on  and  entered  tfie  populous  avenue.  Here 
a  busy  and  elegant  scene  presented  itself  to  view.  Thousands 
of  gaily  dressedpeople  were  moving  along  on  both  sides  of  the 
street ;  the  shops  made  rich  and  beautiful  displays  of  goods ; 
and  hundreds  of  palankeens  and  sedan-chairs,  containing  noble 
ladies,  moved  to  and  fro,  completed  the  animated  scene.  It  was, 
in  fact,  the  hour  of  fashionable  promenade,  and  the  hour  during 
which  the  tradesmen  in  costly  goods  made  their  profits. 

Paul  could  not  avoid  thinking  of  the  dead  tiger  on  his  crup 
per,  and  he  mentally  avowed  that  he  would  rather  run  the 


02  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  J    OR, 

gauntlet  of  a  bam:!  of  savages  than  thus  to  expose  himself,  not- 
withstanding  a  favorite  princess  shared  the  supposed  odium 
with  him. 

But  they  were  now  fairly  in  the  fashionable  avenue,  and  tc 
back  out  were  as  conspicuous  as  to  go  on.  Paul  turned  towards 
Titczing,  expecting  to  see  her  cheeks  tinged  with  crimson 
blushes,  because  he  observed  that  every  body, even  the  urchins 
in  the  street,  stop,  stare  at  her,  and  make  a  sign  of  recognition; 
but,  to  his  surprise,  he  saw  that  she  now  had  assumed  a  dignity 
he  had  never  witnessed  in  her  before,  and  sat  the  horse  as 
proudly  as  if  she  had  been  the  empress,  and  her  bashful  com 
panion,  the  emperor  of  the  Japanese. 

Presently,  they  met  a  magnificent  palankeen,  in  which  was 
seated  one  of  her  father's  high  officials,  who  had  heard  of  the 
high-handed  outrage  at  the  palace  on  the  night  previous.  The 
instant  he  recognized  her,  he  gave  one  loud  shout,  which  Paul 
construed  as  equivalent  of  "Long  live  the  Princess  Titczing!" 

The  cry,  catching  other  ears,  was  repeated  and  passed  along, 
until  the  whole  street  from  one  end  to  the  other,  resounded  with 
the  gratulations  of  the  multitude.  The  tiger  on  Paul's  crupper 
being  discovered,  other  shouts,  unintelligible  to  him,  (and  fortu 
nate  they  were  so,)  congratulatory  to  the  "  tiger-slayer,"  fell 
upon  the  ears  of  the  princess,  which  she  acknowledged,  for  her 
bashful  "gallant,  with  her  sweetest  smiles. 

The  cry  of  the  people  had  reached  the  palace,  some  minutes 
in  advance  of  Paul,  Titczing  and  the  Tiger — the  latter,  in  re 
ality,  although  a  corpse,  attracting  the  most  attention  from  the 
masses.  As  soon  as  the  joyful  news  that  Titczing  was  coming 
reached  the  governor's  ears,  he  ordered  the  immediate  parade 
of  a  squadron  of  cavalry,  expecting  of  course  that  she  was 
under  the  escort  of  a  large  detachment  of  either  his  own  or 
Prince  Kublai's  troops.  The  squadron  of  cavaliers  were  drawn 
up  in  two  lines,  on  either  side  of  the  avenue,  leading  from  the 
outer  gate  to  the  entrance  or  grand  portico  of  the  palace,  under 
which  stood  with  uncovered  heads,  the  Governor  Toki-Taki, 
Prince  Kublai-Keki,  and  their  near  attendants,  and  the  ladies 
of  the  palace. 

At  length  a  trumpet  blast  announced  that  ^he  princess  had 
passed  the  gate,  and  never  was  there  more  sincere  joy  expressed 
than  on  this  occasion.  But  this  feeling  was  commingled  with 
wonder,  when  they  beheld  Titczing  under  the  protection  of  a 
single  horseman,  and  he  the  young  foreigner  who  was  supposed 
to  have  had  a  hand  in  the  abduction,  and  who  carried  behind 
him  the  evidence  of  his  being  a  tiger-slayer. 

Prince  Kublai  bit  his  lips  with  rage,  when  he  saw  that  the 
princess  had,  indeed,  been  rescued  by  him  whom  he  had 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  93 

charged  w^th  having  been  instrumental  in  conveying  her  away. 
Paul,  having  recovered  somewhat  from  the  confusion  he  had 
manifested  while  passing  through  the  thronged  street,  rode 
boldly  up  to  the  palace  entrance,  in  spite  of  the  tiger's  carcass. 
He  vaulted  from  the  saddle,  and  stepping  beside  Titczing's 
horse  to  assist  her  in  alighting,  when  Kublai-Keki  stepped 
before  him  and  tendered  his  services.  The  Princess  gave  him 
a  scornful  look,  and  waived  him  from  her.  She  then  extended 
her  hand  towards  Paul,  who  assisted  her  to  dismount  with  as 
much  grace  as  if  he  had  been  the  grand  equerry  of  a  queen. 
Still  clasping  the  princess's  hand,  he  gallantly  placed  it  in  that 
of  her  father,  who  once  more  pressed  his  daughter  to  his  heart, 
and  wept  tears  of  joy,  while  he  invoked  the  gods  to  shower 
blessings  on  the  head  of  her  preserver. 

There  was  general  gladness  and  gratulation  throughout  the 
palace,  but  with  one  exception — there  was  no  joy  in  the  wicked 
breast  of  Kublai  Keki.  He  yet,  however,  felt,  himself  secure 
against  any  suspicions  that  he  was  the  really  guilty  party.  He 
had,  as  he  had  flattered  himself,  provided  against  such  a  possi 
bility  ;  for  those  who  had  executed  his  villany,  but  were  de 
feated  at  last,  were  so  disguised  that  they  could  not  be  supposed 
to  belong  to  Kublai's  retinue,  and  if  they  were  discovered,  he 
could  deny  having  any  knowledge  of  the  affair.  Those  who 
had  fallen  in  the  act  ot  assassinating  the  soldiers  on  guard,  were 
declared  by  him  to  have  been  defending  instead  of  attacking 
the  palace,  and  he  was  believed. 

Still  there  was  one  thing  that  puzzled  Kublai  exceedingly, 
and  that  was  the  possibility  that  the  stranger  youth,  apparently 
unarmed,  should  succeed  in  overpowering  the  stout  and  trusty 
cavaliers  to  whom  he  had  assigned  the  important  duty  of  fleeing 
with  his  coveted  prize.  That  he  had  taken  her  by  stratagem 
or  stealth  he  could  not  believe — that  he  felt  to  be  an  impossi 
bility.  That  he  had  taken  her  by  force  seemed  probable,  from 
the  fact  that  the  steeds  which  bore  the  youth  and  the  princess 
to  the  palace,  he  recognized  as  belonging  to  his  troop. 

"  He  hath  slain,  too,  the  imperial  tiger,"  muttered  Kublai  to 
himself;  "the  great  Koboe,  were  he  the  lowest  man  of  the  Ja 
panese  race,  would  confer  princely  honors  upon  him ;  but  he  is 
a  Christian,  and  not  of  our  race,  and  cannot  be  honored  for  so 
rare  an  achievement.  Ah !'  it  must  be  true  what  we  have 
heard  of  this  nation,  called  American. — They  are  jugglers,  and 
have  dealings  with  hell's  ministers!  We  will  denounce  him  as 
such  to  the  governor !  Our  personal  safety  maketh  it  neces 
sary." 

Muttering  vengeance  upon  the  head  of  our  gallant  sailor  boy, 
Kublai  turned  an  his  heel  and  strided  with  an  air  of  assurance 


94  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN J    OR, 

into  the  reception  room,  whither  the  governor,  the  princess  and 
Paul  had  preeeded  him. 

"  Most  noble  and  munificent  governor,"  spake  the  troubled 
prince,  "thou  hast  now  satisfied  thyself  of  that  which  we  inti 
mated  to  thee  this  morning." 

"  Give  words  to  thy  meaning,  great  prince,"  said  Toki-Taka. 

"  Regarding  the  guilt  of  this  American  in  stealing  away  thy 
daughter." 

"  With  thine  own  eyes  thou  didst  behold  him  return  her  to 
my  arms." 

"It  maketh  his  crime  no  less  that,  through  the  fear  of  a  cer 
tain  detection,  he  hath  returned  her;  and  art  thou  not  satisfied 
that  of  himself  he  hath  not  done  these  things,  but  through  the 
demons  who  doth  his  bidding?" 

"  Nay,  most  potent  prince,  I  am  not  of  thy  mind  touching 
tfcose  supernatural  powers,  thou  dost  suppose  the  American 
people  to  possess." 

"But  he  hath,  in  slaying  the  tiger,  done  that  which  raised 
Tamo-Sama  to  imperial  power!" 

"  True,  Kublai,  he  hath  slain  the  ferocious  beast!  By  the 
Sun-Goddess,  'tis  wonderful !  But  this,  I  doubt  not,  he  wiL 
explain  satisfactorily.  If  not,  prince,  I  will  give  good  heed  to 
thy  counsel.  My  daughter,"  continued  the  governor,  "then 
must  interpret  between  me  and  this  brave  youth  ;  but  first,  re 
late  all  thou  knowest  regarding  thy  abduction,  who  thou  sus- 
pectest,  thy  rescue,  and  the  particulars  of  the  slaying  of  the 
tiger." 

Titczing  at  once  commenced  her  narrative,  detailing  all  the 
circumstances — the  most  prominent  of  which  are  known  to  our 
readers — from  the  moment  of  her  seizure,  until  her  final  resto 
ration,  excepting  those  which  happened  during  her  unconscious 
ness.  The  conflict  with  the  tiger,  she  related  with  the  utmost 
minuteness ;  and  after  some  conversation  with  Paul,  who  rela 
ted  to  her  the  details  of  the  part  he  had  acted  in  the  drama, 
she  exclaimed  in  a  loud  voice — 

"  There  stands  the  culprit ! — the  Prince  Kublai-Keki !" 

"  The  prince  ?"  ejaculated  every  one  present  with  astonish 
ment. 

"  Ay,  the  prince  !"  repeated  Titczing.  "  I  do  charge  him  with 
conceiving  this  infamous  plot,  and  employing  the  wretches  who 
follow  him  to  execute  it !" 

"  By  the  fiends  of  the  fiery  mountains  !"  exclaimed  Kublai  ; 
*'this  charge  is  totally  false  !" 

"  Daughter,"  said  the  astonished  governor;  "this  charge  is 
made  against  one  of  the  most  powerful  princes  of  the  emp:r« 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF     \    &A(LOR    BOY.  95 

*nd  his  guilt  must  be  established,  or  fearful  will  be  Kubla*'i 
vengeance !" 

"  His  guilt,  father,  shall  be  made  clear  in  due  time,"  replied 
the  princess. 

The  conversation  was  here  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of  a 
messenger,  who  announced  the  arrival  of  a  detachment  of  the 
governor's  troops,  bearing  a  wounded  cavalier,  clad  in  mail. 

Kublai  started  at  this  announcement  as  if  he  had  been  stung 
by  the  deadly  cobra.  The  governor  ordered  the  wounded  man 
to  be  brought  before  him. 

The  moment  the  princess  caught  sight  of  him,  she  ex 
claimed — 

"  'Tis  he  !  'tis  he  !" 

"  It  is,  indeed  !"  said  Paul  to  the  princess ;  "  I  thought  I  had 
killed  him." 

"  Who,  my  child  ?"  asked  the  governor,  eagerly. 

"He  who  bore  me  away  in  the  night.  By  the  sainted  Tin- 
sio-dai-sin,  he  was  the  ruffian  !"  she  declared. 

"  'Tis  too  true,"  said  the  wounded  cavalier  ;  "  and  he  it  was," 
pointing  to  Paul,  "  who  rescued  her  from  me,  and  gave  me  my 
mortal  wound  !  But  1  deserve  to  die!" 

"  Who  prompted  thee  to  do  the  hellish  deed  ?"  questioned  the 
governor. 

"  My  master  !  the  Prince  Kublai-Keki!" 

"  Thou  liest,  wretch !"  stoutly  denied  the  prince,  advancing 
to  cleave,  with  his  keen-edged  sword,  the  head  from  the  dying 
man's  body  !  But  he  was  frustrated  in  his  murderous  attempt, 
by  being  seized  by  two  of  his  own  attendants,  who  at  once  cor 
roborated  the  cavalier's  testimony,  by  declaring  that  they  were 
cognizant  of  their  master's  guilt,  and  asked  pardon  of  the  gov 
ernor  for  not  having  divulged  their  master's  plot  in  time  to 
frustrate  the  foul  act! 

"  Traitors !  dastards !  fiends !"  cried  the  enraged  Knblai, 
springing  away  from  those  who  held  him  ;  and  ere  they  could 
again  get  him  into  their  power,  he  done  that  which  every  Ja 
panese  endeavors  to  do,  when  his  guilt  is  exposed,  to  wit : — 
committed  suicide,  by  making  two  slashes  across  his  abdomen, 
in  the  form  of  a  cross,  with  his  sword. 

Thus  died  Kublai  Keki !  who  deserved  a  more  ignominious 
death. 

After  the  prince's  body  had  been  removed,  and  also  the 
wounded  cavalier,  the  governor  expressed  a  desire  to  see  the 
wonderful  pistol  which  had  killed  so  many  of  his  enemies,  and 
which  had  done  the  marvellous  feat  of  shooting  the  tiger.  Tito- 
zing  made  known  her  father's  wish  to  Paul,  and  he  very  readily 
produced  one  of  his  revolvers,  and  placed  it  in  his  excellency 'i 


96  YANKEES    IN    JAFAN  J    OR, 

hand.  He  examined  it  with  great  scrutiny,  at  the  same  tiiw* 
uttering  ejaculations  of  admiration  at  its  exquisite  finish  and 
ingenious  construction.  Returning  it,  he  signified  his  desire  to 
witness  its  utility  and  the  youth's  skill  in  its  use. 

Paul-  loaded  the  barrels  in  the  presence  of  the  governor  and 
"  those  about  him  ;  then  going  to  an  open  casement,  he  pointed 
to  the  limb  of  an  apricot  tree,  on  which  were  five  apricots,  at  a 
distance  of  twelve  or  fourteen  yards.  In  as  many  seconds  he 
discharged  the  six  barrels,  the  sixth  and  last  cutting  off  the 
small  limb  as  nicely  as  if  it  had  been  done  with  a  knife.  The 
limb, -with  the  five  apricots  was  then  brought  in,  and  to  the 
wonder  and  astonishment  of  all,  each  one  of  the  apricots  was 
perforated  by  a  bullet ! 

"  By  the  golden  crane  !"  exclaimed  Toki-Taki ;  "  'tis  won 
derful  !" 


CHAPTER  IX. 

The  rich  Reward — Return  of  the  Embassy  from  Jeddo. 

THAT  evening,  Toki-Taki,  after  he  had  partaken  of  his  cup 
of  sackee  and  laid  aside  his  amber-tipped  chibouk,  which  he 
had  imported  from  Stamboul,  he  summoned  to  his  private 
cabinet,  the  Princess  Titczing,  and  our  hero,  or  the  "  Young 
Tiger-Slayer,"  as  the  old  governor  persisted  in  calling  Paul. 
His  excellency's  mind  had  been  deeply  absorbed  on  a  subject 
of  great  moment  to  him.  He  had  recovered  his  daughter — in 
that  was  a  world  of  consolation  ;  but  it  did  not  delight  his  heart 
to  witness  strong  symptoms  of  an  ardent  passion  kindling  in 
the  breast  of  his  beloved  Titczing,  for  the  gallant  and  brave 
youth,  to  whom  he  was  indebted  for  her  preservation  from  a 
worse  fate  than  even  death  itself.  That  passion,  he  felt,  must 
at  once  be  subdued,  or  the  inevitable  result,  a  certain  separation, 
/night  forever  destroy  her  peace  of  mind.  The  customs  and 
laws  of  Japan,  aye,  everything,  forbade  such  an  union  ;  and  he 
suspected  that  even  the  heroic  youth  himself  had  no  very  warm 
attachment  for  the  princess.  Altogether,  if  she  loved  the  youth 
ever  so  warmly,  the  consummation  of  her  desire,  he  saw,  was 
totally  hopeless.  This  was  the  subject  of  his  reflections  when 
Paul  and  Titczing  together  obeyed  his  summons. 

".Light  of  my  eyes  !"  said  Toki-Taki,  addressing  his  daughter, 
and  taking  her  affectionately  by  both  hands  ;  "  you  have  escaped 
great  danger ;  and  our  guest,  the  youthful  sti^anger,  deserveth 
much  at  our  hands.  His  reward,  knowing  thy  grateful  heart, 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BC  f.  97 

shall  be  pronounced  by  thee.     For  slaying  the  tiger,  it  is  the 
imperial  prerogative  that  justice  be  done  him !" 

"Alas,  father!"  sighed  Titczing,  "that  which  I  would  be 
stow,  he  would  not  accept." 

"  Hast  offered  him  anything  ?"  ejaculated  the  governor. 

"  Nay,  father." 

"  And  what  is  that  thou  thinkest  he  would  not  accept  ?" 

"  My  hand,"  she  replied,  turning  her  eyes  downward ;  '  for 
he  possesseth  my  heart  already." 

"  By  the  Grand  Llama !  'tis  against  our  holy  religion,1  re 
plied  Toki-Taki,  with  some  warmth.,  "  Know  ye  not,  my  child, 
that  the  great  Mikado  (ecclesiastical  emperor)  would  degrade 
us  to  a  level  with  the  lowest,  if  thy  heart's  wish  were  to  be 
gratified  ?" 

"  True,  father,  and  thy  daughter  hath  not  been  unmindful  of 
these  things,"  replied  the  princess  with  a  truly  discreet  resigna 
tion.  "  His  reward,  then,  shall  be  that  which  he  may  himself 
command." 

Titczing  then  turned  to  Paul,  who  had  been  amusing  himself 
in  examining  a  vase  of  silver  fish,  and,  speaking  in  his  native 
tongue,  she  bade  him  but  speak  his  wishes,  and,  if  within  the 
lawful  power  of  the  Governor  of  Kiooisoo  to  bestow,  they 
should  be  gratified." 

"  Present  him,"  said  Paul,  producing  one  of  his  revolvers, 
"  with  this  slight  token  of  my  esteem  for  his  justice,  and  for  his 
kind  hospitality  to  a  stranger." 

"  By  the  golden  crane  !"  exclaimed  his  excellency,  receiving 
the  gift ;  ''1  will  accept  of  this  wonderful  weapon;  and  in  re 
turn  I  shall  present  him  with  that  casket  of  precious  stones, 
which  hath  excited  the  envy  of  so  many  princes !  Bring  it 
hither,  Titczing ! 

The  princess  unlocked  a  golden  escrutoire,  by  which  she  was 
standing,  and  took  therefrom  a  beautifully  ornamented  casket, 
which  of  itself  would  have  been  a  valuable  gift.  Then,  by  a 
secret  spring,  the  lid  flew  open,  and  displayed  its  dazzling 
riches  to  the  eyes  of  the  sailor  boy,  poor  until  that  moment, 
but  now  a  nabob  in  wealth,  yet  he  knew  not  the  value  of  that 
casket.  It  was,  indeed,  a  magnificent  gift,  for  it  contained 
rare  specimens  of  every  gem  known  in  the  Japanese  islands , 
comprising  the  white  and  tinted  diamond,  the  white  and  pink 
pearl,  the  jasper,  sapphire,  onyx,  topaz,  amethyst,  garnet,  agate, 
cornelian,  and  carbuncle.  These  gems,  the  finest  collection 
known,  were  tastefully  arranged  in  golden  compartments  in 
tke  casket,  and  was  said  to  have  originally  belonged  to  the 
Khan  of  Tartary,  from  whom  it  was  taken  in  the  early  part 
of  the  sixteenth  century,  during  the  Tartar  invasion  of  Niphou. 
7 


%&  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN J    OR, 

Paul,  with  grateful  acknowledgments,  accepted  the  present, 
though  hesitatingly,  from  the  hands  of  the  princess  ;  but  had 
he  been  aware  of  the  immense  value  attached  to  it,  he  would 
scarcely  have  allowed  himself  to  receive  it.  Titczing,  then 
produced  from  the  escrutoire,  a  magnificent  necklace  or  chain 
of  a  thousand  pearls,  arranged  alternately  pink  and  white — each 
pearl  being  the  size  of  a  buck-shot — attached  to  which  was  an 
artistic  likeness  of  the  princess  herself.  This  she  placed  about 
our  hero's  neck,  and  bade  him  wear  it  for  her  sake,  until  he 
should  wed,  and  then  to  bestow  it  upon  his  bride. 

Titczing  spoke  in  faltering  tones,  and  turned  away  to  con 
ceal  a  tear  which  sprang  unbidden  to  her  eyes.  There  was, 
truly,  a  struggle  going  on  in  her  heart,  but  reason  triumphed. 
The  youth  could  not  wed  her;  religion,  education,  custom, 
nature — all  were  against  it — no,  not  nature,  she  reasoned — 
nature  is  on  my  heart's  side — all  else  is  on  the  side  of  reason. 
The  struggle  was  but  momentary,  and  she  again  appeared  as 
light-hearted  and  cheerful  as  ever.  / 

Little  did  Paul  dream  that  he — a  poor  sailor  boy — had 
kindled  a  love-flame  in  the  bosom  of  the  fairest  of  Japan's 
daughters.  He  believed  that  it  was  alone  a  grateful  and  not  a 
loving  heart  which  had  bestowed  such  princely  gifts  upon  him, 
and  as  such  did  he  accept  them.  When  he  should  wed,  desired 
the  princess,  then  he  was  to  place  about  his  bride's  neck,  the 
magnificent  necklace  of  pearls,  with  Titczing's  miniature  at 
tached  !  This,  thought  Paul,  is  a  singular  request,  and  his 
thoughts  naturally  reverted  to  a  beloved  one  afar  oft'.  How 
would  his  bride  regard  such  a  gift  ?  that  was  a  question  sug 
gested  to  his  mind  which  he  could  not  answer,  and  he  gazed 
for  several  moments  almost  abstractedly  upon  the  sweet  sem 
blance  of  her  who  stood  before  him. 

Titczing,  as  if  she  could  read  what  was  passing  in  his  brain, 
and  the  thought  occurring  to  her  that  in  the  final  disposition  of 
the  gift  she  had  not  advised  judiciously,  at  once  removed  his 
embarrassment,  by  telling  him  that  he  must  regard  her  as  a  sis- 
ier,  and  that  an  absent  sister's  likeness  would  by  no  means  be 
an  inappropriate  gift  for  his  bride. 

His  bride!  thought  Paul.  What  a  gift  for  her  I  love  most! 
but  J  Jive  without  hope.  Ere  this  she  may  be  the  bride  of 
another ! 

The  possibility  of  such  a  thing  cost  him  a  pang ;  and  if  not 
at  that  moment  another's,  the  probability  or"  such  a  thing  occur 
ring  ere  he  should  see  his  native  land  again,  was  too  strong  to 
give  joy  to  his  heart. 

The  evening  passed  away,  and  father,  daughter,  and  stranger, 
separated  for  the  night ;  Paul  to  enjoy  bright  visions  of  love 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY  99 

and  home,  and  Titczing  to  dream  of  him,  alas!  of   whom  she 
had  already  dreamed  too  much 

Morning  dawned,  with  its  brightest  beams,  its  sweetest  per 
fumes,  and  the  joyous  minstrelsy  of  its  feathered  warblers.  At 
an  early  hour,  Paul  and  the  princess  had  met,  not  by  appoint 
ment,  but  by  accident,  in  the  gardens  of  the  palace  ;  they  were 
both  abroad  to  enjoy  the  beauties  of  a  fine  Japanese  morning, 
and  had  taken  the  same  path  ;  and  now  they  rambled  joyfully 
together  amid  the  most  beautiful  of  Flora's  productions,  inha 
ling  the  atmosphere  ladened  with  their  perfume,  and  rendering 
them  a  topic  of  delightful  discourse.  As  both  supposed,  this 
was  to  be  their  last  interview  ;  for  on  that  day  would  expire 
the  limit  wnich  was  given  for  the  American  ship  to  remain  in 
Japanese  waters,  and  on  that  very  morning  was  expected  to 
arrive  the  embassy,  with  the  strangers,  which  the  governor  had 
despatched  to  Ziogun's  court. 

But  we  forbear  to  tax  the  reader's  patience  by  detailing  an 
hour's  converse  between  this  interesting  pair.  Suffice  it  to  say 
thai  both  frankly  revealed  the  true  feelings  of  their  hearts,  and 
the  result  was,  that  they  vowed  to  regard  each  other  with  fra 
ternal  affection — as  brother  and  sister,  since  every  obstacle 
stood  in  the  way  of  a  warmer  passion  ;  and  when  far  distant 
from  each  other,  they  promised  to  hold  communion  by  thought, 
if  not  by  letter. 

Japanese  appointments  are  seldom  disregarded,  and  true  to 
the  hour  and  almost  to  the  minute,  the  embassy  returned  to 
Nagasaki.  Captain  Harold  and  Zabdiel  Stubbs,  in  good  spirits, 
alighted  from  the  palankeen,  in  which  they  travelled  only  in 
and  out  of  cities,  havkig  performed  the  intermediate  parts  of 
the  journey  on  horseback  and  in  barges.  They  were  warmly 
welcomed  by  the  governor,  who  received,  besides  presents, 
that  which  Toki-Taki  esteemed  of  far  greater  value — the  thanks 
and  good  wishes  of  the  great  Ziogun.  As  for  our  friends,  they 
cared  less  for  the  pleasure  they  afforded  his  imperial  mightiness, 
than  they  did  for  the  knowledge  they  had  gained  of  the  resources 
and  people  of  this  great  nation,  and  for  several  valuable  pre 
sents  which  each  had  received. 

The  emperor,  in  his  letter  of  acknowledgments  to  the  gov 
ernor,  after  remarking  upon  the  valuable  information  he  had 
gained  from  the  captain  of  the  foreign  ship,  spoke  of  the  amuse 
ment  his  quaint  companion  (Zabdiel  Stubbs)  had  afforded  the 
court :  but,  he  added,  his  native  independence  had  caused  him 
to  violate  all  court  customs  and  etiquette  ;  all  of  which  his  im 
perial  majesty  had  deigned  to  pardon.  The  truth  was,  Zab  nad 
no  notion,  because  he  was  among  the  Japanese,  of  doing  as  the 
Japanese  do ;  his  bearing  and  actions  were  so  anti-monarchio 


I 

100  YANKEES    IN    JAfANJ    OR, 

in  their  character,  even  before  the  mightiest  of  the  empire,  that 
he  was  in  imminent  peril  of  losing  his  head  on  more  than  one 
occasion. 

When  the  hour  arrived  for  the  departure  of  the  Americans 
from  the  palace  of  Nagasaki,  the  princess  besought  her  father 
and  importuned  him  to  use  his  influence  to  have  our  hero  re 
main  until  the  sailing  of  the  first  Chinese  junk  for  Canton,  to 
which  port  he  might  be  sent,  and  thence  to  his  own  country,  by 
one  of  the  American  ships.  This  arrangement  would  require 
his  remaining  in  the  country  some  two  months  longer,  and  then, 
perhaps,  reach  his  home  sooner  than  by  the  crippled  King 
Philip.  She  had  previously  gained  Paul's  consent  to  this  ar 
rangement,  providing  the  governor  could  gain  his  commander's 
permission,  ibr  he  was  really  desirous  of  remaining  a  short  pe 
riod,  for  the  purpose  of  gaining  some  knowledge  of  the  language, 
of  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  people,  and  such  other  in 
formation  as  might  be  acquired. 

Captain  Harold  gave  his  willing  assent  to  the  proposition,  and 
before  the  sun  had  reached  the  meridian,  he  and  Zabdiel  took 
an  affectionate  leave  of  our  hero,  were  escorted  with  great 
pomp  from  the  palace  to  the  barge,  thence  down  the  harbor, 
where  the  old  King  Philip  was  moored.  The  ship,  which  had 
oeen  almost  newly  re-rigged  during  her  commander's  absence, 
was  immediately  got  underweigh,  and  before  sunset,  was  towed 
seaward  a  distance  of  two  leagues,  by  a  detachment  of  the 
guard-boats,  detailed  for  that  purpose,  when  they  left  her  to 
plough  her  own  way  across  the  broad  Pacific. 


CHAPTER  X. 

A  Millionaire  in  trouble — He  calls  upon  his  daughter  to  save  him 
from  bankruptcy  and  disgrace — The  interview. 

AGAIN — swifter  than  the  eagle's  flight,  or  the  lightning's  flash 
— aye,  as  quick  as  thought, — we  would  transport  the  reader's 
imagination  from  Japan  to  our  own  New  England  metropolis. 

It  is  now  the  fourth  summer  that  Sylvia  Seabury  had  been 
domiciliated  under  her  father's  roof,  since  she  bade  adieu  to  the 
sylvan  scenes  where  she  had  passed  her  girlhood  days,  and 
about  eight  months  after  the  sailing  of  the  King  Philip  from  the 
harbor  of  Nagasaki.  During  this  period  the  acknowledged 
belle  of  the  city  had  been  beleaguered  by  an  admiring  host  of 
beaux,  all  kneeling  at  her  shrine,  and  offering  up  their  heart's 
devotions.  Among  the  most  importunate  of  these  was  Reubeo 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR   BOY.  101 

Randall,  Kis  suit  being  encouraged  by  Sylvia's  father,  who  had 
been  unceasing  in  his  endeavors  to  prevail  upon  her  to  give 
him  that  which  so  many  coveted,  namely,  her  hand.  But  our 
heroine  was  deaf  to  all  entreaties.  She  knew  Reuben's  char 
acter  too  well,  and  although  he  had  professed  penitence  to  her 
for  his  outrageous  conduct  towards  Paul  Payson,  who,  through 
his  means,  had  been  reported  dead  in  the  public  press ;  and 
from  the  fact  that  not  a  word  had  been  heard  from  him  by  any 
of  his  friends,  since  his  escape  from  constable  Spike,  seemed  to 
corroborate  the  story  of  his  death.  His  relatives  mourned  him 
as  dead,  and  so  did  Sylvia  Seabury ;  but  the  last  spark  of  hope 
had  not  gone  out  in  her  bosom  ;  it  lingered  there  faintly,  despite 
the  general  belief 

But  why  was  Saul  Seabury,  the  close-fisted  merchant,  so  eager 
to  bestow  his  daughter's  hand  upon  young  Randall,  when  other 
equally  eligible  matches  presented  themselves?  methinks  we  hear 
the  reader  inquire.  "  Thereby  hangs  a  tale."  Saul  Seabury 
was  classed  as  a  millionaire  ;  indeed,  he  was  a  millionaire, 
measured  by  the  ordinary  standard  ;  i.  e.  one  possessing  a  million, 
half  of  a  million,  quarter  of  a  million,  or  even  one  tenth  of  a 
million  of  this  world's  .goods.  Saul,  at  no  period  of  his  life,  had 
been  worth  more  than* two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  although 
in  his  hands  he  had  upwards  of  a  million.  He  was  engaged 
deeply  in  commercial  speculations,  besides  being  heavily  in 
volved  in  a  "  new  city"  enterprise,  with  that  adroit  schemer, 
Ralph  Randall,  Esq.  Ralph  owned  a  large  farm,  which  he  had 
wrested  from  an  unfortunate  victim  of  his  avarice,  through 
which  (after  a  long  rain  storm)  ran  a  swiftly  flowing  stream,  but 
in  a  dry  season  it  never  failed  to  diminish  to  a  little  gurgling 
brook,  with  hardly  sufficient  power  to  have  turned  a  spinning- 
wheel.  This  "immense  water  privilege,"  as  Ralph  termed  it, 
he  had  invited  Seabury  to  view,  and  having  managed  to  get 
him  upon  the  site  of  the  "  new  city"  in  embryo,  immediately 
after  a  long  rain-storm,  the  millionaire  was  favorably  impressed, 
which  led  to  his  subsequent  involvedness  to  the  unscrupulous 
Ralph  to  the  "  tune"  of  upwards  of  fifty  thousand  dollars ! 
This  indebtedness,  together  with  losses  in  "Norfolk  County," 
"  Vermont  Central,"  "  Ogdensburg."  and  other  stocks,  placed 
the  reputed  millionaire  on  the  very  verge  of  bankruptcy..  So 
near  was  he  to  it,  that  if  the  claims  of  the  country  attorney 
were  pressed,  ruin  would  be  the  consequence.  Whether  the 
latter  was  aware  of  his  power  t<?  crush  the  merchant  or  not, 
we  are  unable  to  say;  but  it  is  certain  his  policy  was  to  show 
him  leniency  and  he  gave  him  to  understand  that  if  his  son  Ralph 
succeeded  in  his  suit  with  his  daughter  the  claims  should  be 
cancelled. 


102  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN        OR, 

Thus  it  was  that  Mr.  Seabury  used  every  method  to  induce 
Sylvia  to  favor  young  Randall's  suit ;  first  by  gentle  persuasion, 
then  by  earnest  entreaty,  then  by  harsh  expressions,  and  then 
by  threats  of  disclaiming  her,  and  turning  her  from  his  doors. 

But  the  last  means  had  not  yet  been  resorted  to,  and  his  pride 
would  have  caused  him. not  to  make  use  of  that  which  would 
excite  Sylvia's  commiseration,  and  through  that  bring  about 
the  desired  end,  had  not  a  most  pressing  exigency  demanded  it. 
Yes,  the  hour  had  arrived  when  the  attempt  must  be  made ; 
for  another  day,  unless  he  succeeded,  must  bring  ruin  and  dis 
grace  upon  him. 

Harassed  and  perplexed  with  the  toils  of  the  day,  Mr.  Sea- 
bury  returned  to  his  princely  mansion  at  an  unusually  late  hour 
of  the  afternoon.  With  great  difficulty  he  had  liquidated  the 
heavy  demands  of  the  day,  but  on  the  morrow  he  must  raise 
unusually  large  sums  of  money  to  take  up  the  paper  which 
would  then  fall  due.  There  was  at  the  time  a  great  panic  in 
the  money-market,  the  banks  had  discounted  to  the  utmost 
limit,  and  the  money-changers  had  the  whole  field  to  them 
selves  ;  two  per  centum  a  month  was  a  modest  fleece,  and  in 
most  cases,  on  "short  paper,"  three  per  cent,  was  the  shave. 
But  what  added  to  Seabury 's  embarrassment  more  than  all  the 
rest,  Ralph  Randall  took  this  as  the  most  proper  occasion  to 
enforce  his  claim.  He  knew  full  well,  if  a  crisis  ever  did  oc 
cur  in  the  merchant's  affairs,  that  was  the  time,  and  for  that 
time  the  attorney  had  waited  many  a  day. 

Clearly  did  Saul  see  "  breakers  ahead,"  and  to  avert  the  ter 
rible  calamity,  he  summoned  to  his  private  room  his  beauteous 
daughter.  What  could  she  do  to  avert  the  anticipated  crash  ? 
What  skill  in  financiering  did  she  possess  to  save  that  proud  old 
man  from  ruin — from  beggary?  She  had  an  unjewelled  hand 
to  bestow;  but  with  it  no  heart!  This  hand,  it  seems,  was 
valued  at  fifty  thousand  dollars !  an  immense  price,  considering 
there  were  no  glittering  gems  upon  it,  and  no  heart  to  go  with 
it!  With  the  heart,  and  without  the  jewels,  it  were,  truly, 
priceless — a  mine  of  wealth  could  not  have  purchased  it !  But 
the  heart  was  gone,  buried  with  the  dead  as  the  fair  Sylvia 
supposed. 

"  Father,  1  have  come,"  said  the  daughter,  entering  the  room, 
timidly,  for  it  was  an  unusual  occur  ence  to  be  summoned  to 
his  private  room,  unless  upon  matters  particularly  disagreeable 
to  her. 

"  'Tis  well — be  seated — hem  !"  said  he.  "  I — I  have  some 
thing  of  importance,  immense  importance  to — hem  ! — say  to 
you." 

The  old  introduction,  and  the  old  story,  thought  Sylvia. 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  103 

"  In  a  word,  daughter,  the  time  has  arrived  when  you  must 
consent  to  marry  Reuben  Randall!" 

"  MUST,  father  ?" 

"  Yes  ;  there  is  no  alternative,"  said  the  father,  in  despairing 
tones  ? 

"No  alternative?"  repeated  Sylvia,  manifesting  some  alarm. 

"  None — none." 

"  What  mean  you,  father?" 

'•  You  must  encourage  the  addresses  of  Reuben  Randall 
oi- " 

The  merchant  hesitated. 

"Speak,  father!"  urged  Sylvia. 

"  Or  your  father  will  be  ruined,"  gasped  the  old  man. 

"Ruined?" 

"  Yes,  daughter,  ruined !  irretrievably,  hopelessly  ruined  !-  • 
beggared  ! — all  will  go, — fortune,  honor " 

"  Nay,  father,"  interrupted  Sylvia,  doubting  the  sanity  of  his 
mind ;  "  you  are  rich — there  can  be  no  danger  of  your  being 
reduced  to  poverty." 

"  Listen  to  me,"  resumed  the  excited  merchant ;  "  I  have  of 
late  made  enormous  losses  in  stocks,  and  by  the  depreciation 
of  other  property  on  my  hands.  In  consequence  of  a  panic  in 
the  money  market,  I  have  been  compelled  to  pay  exorbitant 
~ates  of  interest;  but  in  addition  to  all  this,  I  owe  young  Ran 
dall's  father  upwards  of  fifty  thousand  dollars.  To-morrow  is 
the  last  day  of  grace.  If  this  demand  be  not  satisfied,  then  am 
I  a  bankrupt!  To  raise  the  sum  required  is  impossible !  But 
you,  Sylvia,  can  alone  save  me!" 

"  I  comprehend,  father!"  said  she,  while  tears  started  from 
her  eyes  ;  "  my  hand,  then,  is  the  price  demanded  ?" 

"  For  his  son — for  his  son,"  said  Seabury,  hastily. 

"  It  matters  not — I'd  wed  the  father  quite  as  readily  as  i 
would  the  son." 

"  Why  so,  daughter  ?  He  is  young,  well-favored  and  intel 
ligent.'* 

"  True ;  but  the  chances  are  that  the  son  will  long  survive 
the  father ;  therefore,  do  I  much  prefer  the  latter,  though  from 
my  very  soul  do  I  despise  them  both." 

"  A  singular  preference,  truly,  for  a  young  girl  to  make." 

"  No,  father ;  if  I  am  to  be  compelled  to  wed  from  among 
those  I  love  not,  aye,  utterly  despise,  let  me  be  wedded  to  him 
who  has  the  fewest  years  to  live!" 

Sylvia  spoke  in  tones  of  seriousness,  and  with  such  earnest 
ness,  that  the  old  man's  conscience  was  slightly  touched. 

"  Alas  !  I  have  no  choice  in  the  matter,"  said  he  ;  "  either 
you  must  make  up  your  mind  to  wed  the  son,  or  we  are  beg- 
gars,  forever '" 


104  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  J    OR, 

"  Rather,  father,  let  the  alternative  be  to  sell  this  palace  of  a 
house :  its  magnificent  furniture ;  the  valuable  paintings  on  the 
walls  ;  the  silver  plate  in  the  closets ;  the  horses  and  carriages  ; 
discharge  all  the  servants — let  all  go;  then  retire  to  some 
humble  residence — no  matter  how  mean — and  I  will  follow 
you,  work  for  you,  do  anything  to  serve  you,  rather  than  to  be 
united  to  the  unscrupulous  wretch,  who  for  five  years  hath  been 
the  bane  of  my  existence  !" 

''  My  house,  furniture,  horses,  equipage,  and  all,  are  mort 
gaged  already  for  nearly  their  entire  value,"  replied  the  mer 
chant  ;  "  not  a  dollar  more  can  be  raised  upon  them." 

"  Then  we  are  poor,  indeed,"  said  Sylvia  ;  "  and  is  there  no 
possible  escape  from  this  calamity  ?" 

"  You  know  all." 

The  interview  was  here  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of  a 
servant,  who  announced  that  Mr.  Randall  was  below. 

"  Go  to  him,  father,"  said  Sylvia,  shuddering  at  the  mere 
mention  of  the  hated  name  ;  "  in  some  manner  contrive  to 
avoid  or  even  delay  the  sacrifice  you  ask  of  rne  !" 

It  was  young  Randall  who  had  called,  and  who  had  a  power 
of  attorney  to  act  for  his  father.  The  interview  was  a  short 
one,  and  it  resulted  as  might  have  been  anticipated,  (notwith 
standing  the  most  humiliating  appeals  from  a  proud  merchant 
to  an  impertinent  puppy,)  in  no  other  alternative  than  those 
which  had  already  been  demanded. 

The  moment  his  final  answer  was  made,  Sylvia,  who  had 
heard  all,  walked  into  the  room,  and  with  a  dignified  but  solemn 
air,  said, — 

"  Mr.  Randall,  you  have  triumphed  !  I  will  make  the  sacri 
fice,  on  one  condition !' 

"  Say  not  sacrifice,  dearest  Sylvia,"  said  Reuben,  "  but  name 
the  condition." 

"  That  you,  this  very  hour,  cancel  all  demands  which  your 
father  holds  against  mine  ;  and,  in  return,  I  will  give  you  my 
written  pledge,  that  at  the  altar  of  St.  Paul's,  at  12  o'clock, 
midnight,  one  week  from  this  night,  this  hand  shall  be  thine !" 

"  Why  at  so  late  an  hour  ?"  asked  Randall. 

"  Because  it  suits  my  humor,"  replied  Sylvia.  "  Unnatural 
deeds  should  be  performed  while  the  world  is  sleeping  !'* 

"  Speak  not  thus,  charming,  adorable  Sylvia,"  said  Reuben. 

"Out,  flatterer!"  exclaimed  Sylvia,  with  indignation;  "do 
jou  accept  the  proposition  ?" 

"  Yes !''  tartly  replied  Randall,  taking  from  his  pocket-book 
a  number  of  notes.  "  Let  the  contract  be  prepared." 

A  justice  of  the  peace  was  sent  for.  and  the  document  was 
drawn  up,  and  read  by  the  magistrate  to  the  parties. 


THE    ROMANTIC     \DVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    EOT,  105 

At  Sylvia's  request,  a  clause  was  added,  which  annulled  the 
contract,  provid-ng  the  bridegroom  was  not  at  the  altar  to  re 
ceive  his  bride,  at  the  hour  and  minute  designated.  The  con 
tract  was  duly  signed,  the  notes  cancelled,  and  Mr.  Randall 
and  the  magistrate  left  the  mansion. 

The  reputed  millionaire  was  saved  from  bankruptcy ! 


CHAPTER  XI. 


Zabdiel  turns  up   a   Trump — A    Genuine    Yankee    Trick — A 
Shipwreck — Conclusion. 

SWIFTLY  flew  the  hours  which  intervened  between  the  night 
of  the  betrothal  and  the  night  appointed  for  the  nuptials.  Time's 
relentless  car  moves  on  with  a  celerity  only  opposite  to  our  de 
sires.  With  the  happily  betrothed  its  wheels  revolve  slowly  ; 
with  the  unhappily  betrothed  they  roll  on  swiftly.  Five  days 
— they  seemed  to  Sylvia  but  so  many  hours — of  that  week  of 
misery  had  passed  away.  Our  heroine  was  seated  alone,  amid 
folds  of  rich  drapery,  looking  forth,  from  the  parlor  window  of 
that  proud  looking  mansion,  upon  the  throngs  of  happy  beings 
who  were  enjoying  a  promenade  along  the  mall,  running 
parallel  with  Bacon-street.  It  was  a  lovely  moonlight  night, 
and  the  scone  before  her  seemed  all  joy,  which  only  caused  her 
to  feel  more  keenly  the  misery  which  pervaded  her  very  soul. 
While  contemplating  the  abhorred  scene,  which  in  a  few  hours 
would  be  enacted,  and  in  which  she  was  to  play  a  prominent 
part,  her  attention  was  suddenly  arrested  by  hearing  some  one 
on  the  walk  inquire  of  another,  in  which  house  Mr.  Seabury 
lived." 

''You  are  directly  before  it  now!"  answered  the  person 
accosted. 

"Wai,  I  know'd  it  wur  sumwhar  on  Bacon-street;  but,  by 
whalebone,  I  began  to  think  I  should  never  run  afoul  of  it 
Kin  you  tell  me  if  old  Seabury 's  darter  's  living  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes,  and  she's  soon  to  be  married." 

"  Married  ?"  ejaculated  the  questioner.  "  What  faller's  ben 
sparking  up  to  her  ? — who  's  gunto  git  her  ?" 

"  A  young  lawyer  by  the  name  of  Randall,  I  believe." 

"Rewb  Randle,  I'll  bet  a  whale  !  Wai,  may  I  be  swallyed 
as  Joner  was,  if  tain't  an  all-fired  shame,  ef  that  mean,  scaly, 
scurvy,  sneaking  son  of  a  ravenous  old  land-shark  is  gunto 
marry  the  pootyest  gal  in  seventeen  countries.  Wai, .there's 
no  tellin'  how  often  the  gals  will  about  ship,  but,  that 


106  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  J    OR, 

Seab'ry  would  ever  sail  on  that  tack,  1  did'nl  believe,  may  1  be 
drowned  in  blubber  if  I  did  !" 

The  man  addressed  passed  on,  leaving  Zabdiel  Stubbs  (whom 
our  readers  have  possibly  recognized)  uttering'all  sorts  of  ex 
clamations,  peculiar  to  a  Yankee  whaleman,  to  express  his 
astonishment  that  "  that  gal  cud  ever  gin  up  the  noble  Paul  for 
that  mean  skunk,  Rewb." 

Notwithstanding  the  unwelcome  intelligence  he  had  received, 
he  vowed  he'd  "  see  the  gal,  and  ef  she  owned  up  to  it,  he'd  gin 
her  a  piece  o'  his  mind."  With  this  determination  he  mounted 
the  stone  steps,  and  finding  the  door  minus  a  "  knocker,"  he 
rapped  with  his  bony  knuckles,  not  being  "posted"  in  the  mat 
ter  of  bell-pulls.  Sylvia  answered  the  summons  herself,  for  a 
portion  of  the  stranger's  expressions  had  fallen  upon  her  ears, 
and  she  had  a  curiosity  to  know  who  it  was  that  must  have 
once  known  her. 

"  How  d'ye  do?  Is  Miss  Seab'ry  to  hum  ?"  asked  Zab,  the 
moment  the  door  was  opened. 

"  I  am  Miss  Seabury." 

"  Dew  tell  ? — I  wanter  know  ? — haow  you've  grown !"  saw* 
Zabdiel  in  a  breath. 

"  Will  you  please  walk  in,  sir,"  said  Sylvia. 

"Seein1  it's  yew,  I  don't  keer  'f  I  dew." 

Zab  reeled  his  way  after  Sylvia  into  the  magnificent  parlor. 

"  Wai,  I  dew  declare  for't,  this  's  eenamost  as  harnsum  at 
the  Emp'ror  o'  Japan's  palace,  by  ivory  !"  said  Zab,  staring 
about  with  wonder  at  the  magnificently  furnished  apartments ; 
then  seating  himself  at  Sylvia's  request,  he  remarked:  "You 
don't  'pear  to  know  me  ?" 

"  No,  sir  ;  1  have  not  that  pleasure." 

"  Wai,  I  did'nt  s'pect  you  did  ;  nobody  duz  ;  I  don't  skeercely 
know  myself.  You  see  I've  jest  got  hum  from  a  blubber- 
huntin'  vije,  and  there's  nothin'  on  airth  '11  change  a  man's 
figger-head  quicker  than  bobbin'  up  an'  down,  night  and  day 
Sundys  inclewded,  arter  Kamscatsky  whales.  But  to  cum  to 
the  pint  at  once,  Miss  Seab'ry,  I  had  little  or  sunthin'  to  say  to 
you,  but  a  chap  outside  tells  me  you're  gunto  marry  that — that 
—Rewb  Randle  ?" 

"Sir?"  exclaimed  Sylvia,  indignantly;  "will  you  please  to 
make  known  your  errand  here." 

*'  Wai,  as  I  meant  to  say,  if  that  chap  outside  hadn't  told  the 
trewth,  rnebbe  you'd  be  willing  to  hear  from  a  pertic'ler  friend 
o'  mine,  who  loves  you  better  than  a  mouse  loves  cheese  ;  and 
folks  up  aour  way  used  to  say  that  he  didn't  love  you  any  bettei 
than  you  loved  him.  But  if  you're  gunto  marry  that  other  chap 
why  I  daon't  know  as  haow  I've  got  anything  more  to  say." 

*'  Of  whom,  sir,  do  you  soeak  ?"  inquired  Sylvia,  eagerly. 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTUKEd    OF    A    SAILOR     lUY.  107 

"  Of  Paul  Payson,  to  be  sure." 
"  Then  he  is  not  dead  ?" 
*'  Dead  !"  who  said  he  was  dead  ?" 
"  It  was  so  reported  in  the  papers." 
"When?" 
"  Ten  months  ago  !" 

"  Wai,"  said  Zab,  "  't  wouldn't  been  very  strange,  for  'cord 
ing  to  the  dangers  he  has  weathered,  lie  orter  ben  dead  abaout 
fourteen  times  ;  but  I  parted  comp'ny  with  him  eight  months 
ago." 

"  Where  ?" 

"Off  to  Japan,  where  I  left  him  'live  and  kickin',  and  now 
it's  'baout  time  he  was  to  hum  ;  but  he'd  better  stay  away,  for 
if  he  hears  that  you've  gin  yerself  away  to  that  Rewb  Randle, 
his  heart  '11  snap  like  a  topmast  in  a  harrycane !" 

"Alas!  alas!"  she  cried  ;  "'tis  true  that  1  have  promised  to 
marry  the  man  I  despise  !  but,"  she  added,  her  voice  sinking  to 
a  whisper,  "  circumstances,  beyond  my  control,  have  forced 
me  thus  to  sacrifice  myself." 

"  Then  you  don't  love  that  pesky  Rewb,  arter  all?" 
''  Frorp  my  soul  I  despise  him  !" 
"And  you  have  not  forgotten  Paul  ?" 
"A  woman  can  never  forget  the  one  she  most  loves." 
"Then  it's  all  right,"  said  Zab,  manifesting  great  joy,  as  he 
drew  from  beneath  his  blue  jacket,  a  sealed  packet,  much  soiled, 
and  giving  it  to  Sylvia  ;  "  when  he  and  I  parted  company,  he 
said,  if  Sylvia   Seabury  had   not  forgotten   her  old  playmate, 
Paul,  to  give  her  this  ;  I  promised  to  dew  it,  if  ever  I  got  hum  ; 
and  here  it  is.     Now,   about  your  promise  to  marry  that  sar- 
pent,  Rewb;  can't  we  manage  to  get   the   weather-guage  of 
him?     What  kinder  lay  did  you  take  him  on  ?" 
"Do  you  mean  the  conditions  of  the  betrothal?" 
"  Aye,  Miss  ?" 

"His  part  of  the  contract  he  has  fulfilled.  It  now  remains 
for  me  to  repair  to  St.  Paul's  church,  day  after  to-morrow 
night,  at  the  hour  of  midnight,  when  the  ceremony  is  to  be  per 
formed.  By  the  terms  of  the  contract  if  he  be  not  there  to  re 
ceive  his  unwilling  bride,  when  the  midnight  clock  has  tolled, 
then  does  he  forfeit  all  claims  to  my  hand." 

"  Depend  on't,  he'll  be  on  hand,  .ike  Mother  Carey's  Chickens 
in   a  gale  o'   wind, '  said  Zab  ;  "  I'd   like  to  run  afoul  o'  him 
'bout  fifteen  minutes  afore  the  time,  I'd  sarve  him  worse  thai) 
we  did  old  Spike.     WThere,  Miss,  duz  Rewb  board  ?" 
"  That  I  am  unable  to  tell  you,"  answered  Sylvia. 
"  Wai,  never  mind ;  I  ony  want   to  gin  him  a  piece  o'  my 
mind."  said  Zabdiel,  rising  to  leave.     "'Fere  I  leave  for 


108  YANKEES  in  JAPAN;  OR, 

mebbe  I'll  call  again ;  and  as  for  that  little  affair  at  the  church, 
p'raps  sumthing  kin  be  done ;  stranger  things  hev  ben  done." 

"  But  who  have  I  to  thank  for  bringing  me  this  packet,  and 
who  takes  so  deep  an  interest  in  me." 

"  My  name  !  I  forgot  to  tell  you,  by  ivory !  "Tis  Stubbs — 
Zabdiel  Stubbs.  I'm  stoppin'  at  the  Sailors'  Hum,  where  you 
can  send  ef  you  should  happen  to  want  my  sarvices." 

"  Thanks,  Mr.  Stubbs — you  are  exceedingly  kind,"  said 
Sylvia,  as  she  followed  the  weather-beaten  Yankee  whaleman 
to  the  door,  and  bade  him  "  good-night." 

It  wanted  fifteen  minutes  of  the  midnight  hour,  when  Saul 
Seabury,  with  his  daughter,  Sylvia,  leaning  upon  his  arm, 
together  with  other  members  of  his  family,  walked  up  the  broad 
aisle  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  and  stood  before  the  altar.  She, 
who  was  arrayed  in  bridal  apparel,  sobbed  violently. 

The  bridegroom  had  not  yet  come ! 

The  minutes  passed  but  slowly  by.  Five,  ten,  and  even 
twelve  had  gone,  and  still  he  came  not.  The  surpliced  rector 
came  from  the  vestry,  ready  to  perform  the  solemn  service — 
the  bridegroom  was  not  there  !  Suddenly,  the  sobbings  ceased, 
and  all  was  still  as  death !  The  bride  now  gazed  almost 
breathlessly  at  the  hands  of  the  church  clock — the  minute  hand 
even  seemed  to  stand  still — yet  she  heard  its  slow  tickings,  and 
each  stroke  seemed  to  vibrate  heavily  upon  her  heart!  Sixty 
seconds !  oh !  how  slowly  they  drag  on !  The  rumbling  of 
wheels  was  heard  in  the  distance  ! — nearer  and  nearer — louder 
and  louder — 

The  Park-street  clock  strikes  ! — slowly  and  solemnly — but 
oh,  how  surely ! 

"  Twelve  o'clock,  and  the  bridegroom  is  not  here  to  claim 
his  bride  !  The  contract  of  betrothal  is  forfeited  !"  said  the  jus 
tice  who  had  drawn  up  and  signed  and  sealed  the  compact. 

Then  followed  a  scream  of  excessive  joy,  which  echoed 
throughout  the  walls  of  that  holy  temple,  and  Sylvia  Seabury 
fainted  in  her  father's  arms !  She  was  borne  to  the  carriage, 
conveyed  home,  and  when  restored,  her  first  words  were — 

"  Oh,  God !  I  thank  Thee  for  saving  me  from  a  worse  fate 
than  death  itself." 

But  why  did  the  bridegroom  fail  to  come,  and  receive  his 
victim  ? 

At  the  very  moment  the  bride  appeared  at  the  altar  of  St. 
Paul's,  a  carriage,  drawn  by  fleet  horses,  left  the  new  hotel  in 
Bowdoin-square.  In  that  carriage  sat  the  bridegroom,  with  a 
malicious  smile  upon  his  dark  features. 

The  vehicle  rolled  rapidly  on.     It  was  a  dark  and  gloomy 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  109 

night ;  the  rain  pattered  upon  the  deserted  pavement,  and  the 
wind  god  howled  fearfully  among  the  huge  elms  skirting  the 
common.  The  carriage  reached  King's  Chapel,  when  one 
corner  of  it  fell  with  a  crash  to  the  earth,  and  one  of  its  hinder 
wheels  rolled  into  the  gutter!  The  driver  reined  up  the  steeds 
— leaped  from  the  box — and,  opening  the  coach-door,  allowed 
his  frightened  passenger  to  alight. 

"  Damnation,  driver,  what  means  this  ?"  he  demanded  in  a 
rage. 

"  May  I  be  harpooned,  if  one  o'  the  starn  wheels  isn't  un 
shipped,"  answered  Zabdiel  Stubbs,  who  had,  by  a  shrewd 
piece  of  management,  become  coachman  for  this  occasion. 

"How  damnably  provoking !"  said  Randall;  "I  suppose  I 
may  as  well  go  to  Saint  Paul's  a-foot,  now?" 

"  Wai,  you'll  spile  that  bran-new  rig  ef  you  dew.  I  hain't 
no  umbrill.  I  guess  as  haow  we  can  ship  the  wheel  in  'bout 
tew  minits,  then  III  crack  on  all  sail.  Yeou  jest  bear  a  hand 
on  this  ere  main-boom — there,  naow — hold  on  while  I  get  the 
wheel  and  ship  it — that's  all  right — you  can  get  aboard  while  1 
screw  her  up, '  said  Zub,  slily  producing  the  nut  of  the  box  from 
his  pocket.  "  It  goes  all-fired  hard— it  wants  slushing." 

"  How  slow  you  are — hurry,  hurry  !  Damnation,  1  shall  be 
late  !"  said  the  enraged  and  impatient  Randall. 

"  Haste  makes  waste,  yer  know,"  replied  Zab,  grunting  as 
if  he  were  exerting  himself  to  the  utmost.  "I'm  dewin'  it  as 
fast  as  I  kin — screwin'  with  the  fingers  's  tarnal  slow  work — ef 
I'd  a  wrench  I'd  screw  'er  on  in  the  flap  of  a  whale's  tail." 

Our  nautical  Jehu  at  length  finished  the  job  and  mounted 
the  box. 

"  Drive  for  your  life !"  cried  Randall,  absolutely  perspiring 
with  impatience. 

"  I'll  put  the  animals  through,"  said  Jehu,  cracking  the  lash 
smartly  over  the  horses'  back,  and  off  they  travelled  upon  the 
run  ! 

The  Park-street  clock  tolled  the  midnight  hour ! 

"  Hold  on  !  hold  on,  driver  !  This  is  the  place  !"  screamed 
Randall. 

"  Whoa !  whoa !"  cried  Zab,  at  the  same  time  giving  the 
animals  full  rein. 

"  Hell  and  furies  !  why  don't  you  stop  ?"  demanded  the  cho 
leric  passenger,  as  they  were  rapidly  leaving  St.  Paul's  behind 
them. 

"Can't  hold  'em!"  shouted  Jehu.  "The  tarnal  critters 
will  go." 

Onward  rolled  the  vehicle  in  spite  of  the  profane  protesta 
tions  of  the  passenger.  Jehu,  thinking  he  had  gone  fare  nough, 


YANKEES    IN    JAPAN  \    OR, 

after  passing  the  entire  length  of  the  common,  reined  up  the 
panting  steeds,  and,  turning  round,  he  drove  back,  and  halted 
in  front,  of  St.  Paul's,  and  landed  his  passenger  on  the  sidewalk. 

The  lights  no  longer  burned  at  the  altar !  The  rector  and 
the  bridal  party  had  gone!  The  sexton  had  closed  the  doors 
of  the  sanctuary ! 

What  a  hell  of  passion  raged  in  the  heart  of  the  disappointed 
bridegroom !  How  awful  were  the  oaths  and  imprecations 
heaped  upon  Zabdiel  ;  but  he  heeded  them  no  more  than  he 
did  the  idle  wind !  Yet,  for  all  his  display  of  passion,  he  attri 
buted  his  misfortunes  of  the  night  to  accident  and  not  to  design. 

On  the  next  day,  the  hero  of  the  night  called  on  Sylvia,  and, 
in  his  peculiar  style,  related  to  her  the  part  he  had  acted  in  the 
adventures  of  the  previous  night.  Her  gratitude  to  him  knew 
no  bounds,  and  she  insisted  upon  his  accepting  a  rich  reward  ; 
but  he  would  receive  nothing,  declaring  that  the  "  upsetting  of 
his  apple-cart,"  was  satisfaction  enough  for  him. 

Another,  and  still  another  year  had  passed  away,  and  the 
friends  of  Paul  Payson  had  had  no  tidings  from  him. 

At  this  period,  the  merchant  Seabury,  having  business  in 
Europe,  embarked  in  one  of  his  own  ships,  in  company  with 
his  daughter  Sylvia.  On  the  passage  they  encountered  a  ter 
rible  gale — the  ship  was  dismasted,  and  she  also  sprang  a  leak  ; 
and  it  was  only  by  incessant  working  of  the  pumps  that  she 
could  be  kept  afloat.  On  the  third  day  the  wind  lessened,  but 
the  waves  rolled  mountains  high..  Towards  noon  a  sail  was 
descried,  bearing  towards  the  water-logged  packet.  The  ship 
proved  to  be  the  Telemachus  from  Canton,  via  Calcutta,  and 
bound  to  New  York  ;  the  captain  of  which,  on  discovering 
human  beings  aboard  the  hulk,  hesitated  as  to  whether  or  not  he 
ought  to  hazard  the  lives  of  any  of  his  own  crew  in  an  effort 
to  rescue  the  helpless  ones  aboard  the  wreck.  At  length,  one 
of  the  passengers,  a  young  and  active  man,  prevailed  upon  him 
to  send  a  boat.  No  sooner  was  it  lowered,  than  the  young 
stranger  leaped  aboard  and  shipped  the  rudder.  Four  men 
manned  the  oars,  and  they  put  off  for  the  ship  over  the  foam- 
crested  billows,  steered  by  the  gallant  passenger.  They 
reached  the  lee-side  of  the  hulk,  and  five  passengers,  including 
two  ladies  with  veiled  faces,  succeeded  in  getting  into  the  boat, 
and  were  soon  upon  the  deck  of  the  Indiaman,  offering  up 
prayers  to  God  that  their  lives  had  been  spared.  The  wind 
now  subsiding  into  a  gentle  breeze,  comparatively,  the  boat's 
crew,  with  their  volunteer  coxswain,  succeeded  in  transfer- 
ng  every  man  from  the  wreck  to  the  Indiaman. 

Soon  the  latter  bore  away  on  her  course,  and  the  rescued 


THE    ROMANTIC    ADVENTURES    OF    A    SAILOR    BOY.  Ill 

passengers  desired  to  see  the  brave  seamen  who  had  risked 
their  own  lives  to  save  them. 

"  To  this  young  gentleman,  my  passenger,"  said  the  com 
mander  of  the  Telernachus,  turning  to  Paul,  who  was  wiping 
the  perspiration  from  his  brow,  "  more  than  to  any  else,  do 
vou  owe  your  present  safety.  I  confess,  I  feared  to  send  a 
boat,  but  his  advice  gained  my  consent,  and  he  was  the 
first  to  volunteer,  and  most  bravely  did  he  acquit  himself." 

"  Nay,  captain,  you  do  me  more  than  justice,"  said  the 
young  man,  modestly ;  "  the  seamen  deserve  praise  rather 
than  I." 

As  he  spoke,  Sylvia  Seabury  gazed  earnestly  ;nto  his  noble 
countenance. 

"That  voice!  those  features !"  she  whispered  to  herself 
stretching  eagerly  forward. 

The  young  stranger  caught  that  earnest  gaze. 

"  Paul !"  she  uttered,  audibly  but  faintly. 

"Sylvia!  Sylvia  !"  responded  our  adventurous  hero,  and  in 
another  moment  she  was  clasped  in  his  embrace. 

Of  course  there  was  not  a  little  surprise  manifested,  especially 
by  Mr.  Seabury,  who  was  now  first  introduced  to  Paul  Payson 
by  his  own  daughter. 

Mutual  explanations  followed.  Paul  narrated  his  remarka- 
ole  adventures  to  Sylvia,  and  Sylvia  in  return  related  hers,  par 
ticularly  that  in  which  Stubbs  performed  so  important  a  part. 

But  Paul's  recent  career  is  yet  unknown  to  our  readers.  Sub 
sequent  to  the  "  King  Philip's"  departure  from  Nagasaki  Bay,  he 
remained  a  voluntary  prisoner  within  Toki-Taki's  palace  walls, 
a  period  of  four  months,  during  which  time,  by  diligent  study, 
he  acquired  considerable  knowledge  of  the  Japanese  tongue, 
with  the  assistance  of  the  intelligent  princess,  who  was  alter 
nately  his  teacher  and  his  pupil.  This  period  elapsing,  he  took 
passage  in  a  Chinese  junk  for  Canton,  and,  on  sailing,  the  gov 
ernor  put  on  board,  in  his  name,  two  boxes,  which  he  afterwards 
ascertained  to  be  filled  with  ingots  xof  gold  and  silver.  The 
princess,  too,  gave  him  rich  presents  at  parting.  After  a  bois 
terous  and  protracted  passage,  the  junk  arrived  at  Canton.  For 
six  month*  our  hero  remained  at  the  English  factory,  when  he 
took  passage  in  an  American  ship  for  New  York,  by  the  way 
of  Calcutta,  from  which  latter  port  the  ship  did  not  depart,  un 
til  several  months  had  elapsed  after  her  arrival. 

The  Telernachus  af.  length  reached  New  York,  and  landed 
our  hero  and  heroine  in  safety.  A  few  weeks  afterwards,  on  a 
serene  and  beautiful  day,  at  the  meridian  hour,  a  nuptial  cere 
mony  was  performed  at  Saint  Paul's  Church,  in  the  presence 
of  a  numerous  assemblage  of  interested  spectators.  We  scarcely 


112  YANKEES    IN    JAPAN. 

need  write  thnt  Paul  Payson  was  the  bridegroom  and  Sylvia 
Seabury  the  bride.  Bevsides  placing  the  bridal  ring  upon  her 
finger,  he  encircled  her  neck  with  the  chain  of  a  thousand 
pearls,  to  which  hung  the  "counterfeit  presentment"  of  his 
aJopted  sister — the  Princess  Titczing. 

Prior  to  the  consummation  of  our  hero's  happiness,  he  visited 
his  native  village,  redeemed  the  old  homestead  from  the  clutches 
of  Ralph  Randall,  and  placed  money  in  his  father's  hand  to 
commence  a  suit  against  the  village  oppressor.  The  result 
was,  Randall  was  tried  and  convicted  for  fraud  ;  but,  ere  the 
verdict  was  rendered,  he  made  his  escape,  and  has  not  since 
been  heard  from,  leaving  his  bondsmen  minus  some  five  thous 
and  dollars.  His  son,  Reuben,  also  decamped,  and  all  accounts 
agree  that  he  was  recently  engaged  in  keeping  a  "  gambling 
hell"  in  California. 

Paul  also  purchased  a  farm,  the  deed  of  which  he  gave  to 
Zabdiel  ;  he  also  presented  him  with  his  portion  of  the  proceeds 
of  the  whaling  voyage,  which,  together  with  the  money  he  had 
himself  saved,  enabled  him  to  stock  it  with  a  fine  herd  of  cattle, 
horses,  sheep,  etc.  We  will  not  omit  the  fact  that  the  packet 
which  was  entrusted  to  him  by  Paul,  contained  the  casket  of 
precious  gems,  the  gift  of  Toki-Taka. 

Tn  conclusion,  we  would  say  to  those  who  have  taken  pains 
to  gather  information  respecting  Japan,  that,  except  in  some 
leading  features,  they  must  have  been  struck  with  the  many 
discrepancies  and  contradictions,  of  various  authors,  in  their 
descriptions  of  this  great  empire.  These  arise  from  the  fact 
that  Japanese  laws  and  customs  are  not,  as  many  writers 
aver,  as  "  unalterable  as  the  laws  of  the  Medes  and  Persians  ;" 
and,  as  we  have  gathered  our  facts  chiefly  from  sailors,  who 
have  in  late  years  been  shipwrecked  upon  thfr  Japanese  coast, 
we  have,  in  some  particulars,  relied  upon  their  statements  rath 
er  than  upon  the  views  of  those  who  wrote  a  century  ago,  and 
from  whose  writings  all  the  modern  books  on  Japan  are  com 
piled.  The  history  of  this  great  empire  is,  truly  "a  sealed 
book  ;"  but  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  that  seal  will  be 
broken,  and  then  we  shall  have  something  more  to  write  of 
"  Yankees  in  Japan  !" 


THE    END 


3268     I 


* 


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